Match Preview
Norrie looking forward to Alcaraz take a look at: ‘I’ll take it to him’
Briton previews second-round conflict with high seed Alcaraz in Paris
October 27, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Cameron Norrie will face Carlos Alcaraz for the second time this 12 months on Tuesday in Paris.
By Jerome Coombe
Cameron Norrie is trying to finish his season on a excessive for the second straight 12 months, and there’s no better take a look at than dealing with the No. 1 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings, Carlos Alcaraz.
The 30-year-old Briton will tackle Alcaraz within the second spherical of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday, 4 months after falling to the Spaniard in straight units of their Wimbledon quarter-final. This time, underneath the intense lights of La Protection Area, Norrie is hoping for a fairly totally different final result.
“It’s a match to take pleasure in. He’s one of many two finest gamers on the earth, between him and Jannik [Sinner],” Norrie informed ATPTour.com. “I’m going to take it to him… I all the time have battles with him, so I’m trying ahead to that.”
Norrie arrives within the second spherical after grinding by means of a nervy opener in opposition to Sebastian Baez on Monday. His 6-3, 6-4 win featured six breaks of serve, utilizing the match as priceless courtroom time to settle into the brand new situations on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion’s new dwelling.
“I used to be somewhat bit nervous, but it surely’s a pleasant new feeling to be enjoying right here in La Défense,” stated Norrie, the present World No. 31. “I feel these are the precise matches you wish to be enjoying — if you’re a bit nervous and then you definitely come by means of it — in order that’s good.
“It’s good to work on [the nerves] in a real-life match situation when you find yourself the favorite to win and you need to carry out. I used to be ready to do this in some large moments, so I loved that.”
After dismantling Norrie at SW19, Alcaraz at the moment leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection 5-2, however the Briton has cause to imagine this time round. Gamers have famous a noticeable change in courtroom pace — an element Norrie believes might carry his heavy topspin forehand into play.
“For certain I prefer it. I bear in mind final 12 months it was so fast I couldn’t make too many balls,” Norrie stated of the situations. “It fits my sport properly and the ball’s bouncing up somewhat bit greater than I bear in mind. It was all the time fairly low right here earlier than, in order that’s actually good for my forehand and I can get some good revs on it.”
Nonetheless, dealing with Alcaraz isn’t easy. The 22-year-old boasts a Tour-leading eight titles this 12 months, in accordance with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and arrives refreshed for his first ATP Tour event since winning the Tokyo title.
“Particularly on this courtroom, the place the ball is bouncing quite a bit, I’m going to must fluctuate it quite a bit and be prepared for something,” Norrie stated. “He’s received a really full sport and can also be one of the crucial assured guys for the time being, so I’m going to must play my finest to have an opportunity.
“I’m going to depart that every one behind and go on and play. For certain [time for some revenge], he chopped me fairly simply at Wimbledon so I’m going to must step up my stage to have an opportunity with him.”
Norrie’s 2024 season was disrupted by a forearm damage that pressured him to overlook the Paris Olympics and the US Open, however he discovered type within the remaining occasion of the 12 months to achieve the ultimate of the ATP 250 in Metz.
Now, after a 2025 marketing campaign that has featured a High 10 win over Lorenzo Musetti in Washington, Norrie will put his grit and flexibility in opposition to the easiest. A win for the previous World No. 8 could be an announcement.
