Paris, Oct 29 (NationPress) Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Paris exuding clarity, confidence, and momentum, yet found himself perplexed by his defeat to Britain's Cameron Norrie. The Spanish star confessed that the Paris Masters is a tournament he struggles to perform well in.

Competing for the first time since capturing his Tour-leading eighth title of the season in Tokyo in late September, Alcaraz was not at his peak during his eighth ATP encounter with Norrie.

Norrie achieved his initial victory over a world No.1, Alcaraz, with an impressive scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 over the top-ranked player.

“I arrived here in great spirits, full of energy, believing I could achieve great results because I have been playing exceptional tennis,” Alcaraz remarked. “This year has been my best in terms of performance at the year’s end. I’ve been discussing with some of my peers and my team, and I feel fantastic.”

“In previous years, I experienced exhaustion, both mentally and physically. This year, however, I feel good. I skipped Shanghai and spent some days at home to enjoy and recharge. I’m unsure what went wrong here. The Paris Masters has always been a challenge for me, but I will find a way to excel and play fantastic tennis here, without a doubt,” he continued.

This loss opens the door for Alcaraz’s fierce rival, Jannik Sinner, to potentially reclaim the World No. 1 title should he secure his first title in Paris.

With less than two weeks remaining until the Nitto ATP Finals, Alcaraz must quickly regroup to focus on his ambition of clinching a title at the year-end championships.

“I will do my utmost to prepare effectively for Turin and the Davis Cup, which are extremely significant tournaments on my horizon,” Alcaraz stated.

“Right now, I simply want to return home and reflect on my next steps. But I’ll certainly practice and prepare, ensuring I don’t repeat this experience again,” Alcaraz concluded.