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CARLOS ALCARAZ’S PASSION DOUBTED AFTER LIFELESS PARIS MASTERS PERFORMANCE.

Carlos Alcaraz's "listless" Paris Masters exit to Cameron Norrie questioned by experts. The shock defeat, with 54 unforced errors, ends his streak of nine consecutive finals in the 2025 season.

Carlos Alcaraz’s passion doubted after lifeless Paris Masters performance.
On Tuesday in Paris, Cameron Norrie defeated Carlos Alcaraz in three sets - Photo Credit: By ATP Staff

A former ATP player has called Carlos Alcaraz's performance at the 2025 Paris Masters "borderline listless" after he lost shockingly to Cameron Norrie in his opening encounter.

In the second round of the Masters tournament, the world No. 1 lost to 31st-ranked Norrie 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, losing poorly in the second and third sets.

Alcaraz lost for the third time in eight encounters with Norrie, making 54 unforced errors and winning only 46% (86 of 187) of the total points scored.

The surprise of Carlos Alcaraz. He left the Paris Masters because his "hunger" was questioned.

Nicolas Escude claims that Carlos Alcaraz "went against all he has been doing for the previous few months" in his defeat to Cameron Norrie at the Paris Masters.

Former ATP world No. 17 and tennis expert Escude stated that Alcaraz had a "complex relationship" with the Paris Masters.

Before the Paris Masters, the Frenchman had questioned Alcaraz's "hunger" for the season-ending competitions.
Alcaraz's performance against Norrie stopped his incredible run of nine straight finals, which began at the Monte Carlo masters in April, and was maybe his lowest of the stellar 2025 campaign.

Along with his loss to David Goffin in the second round in March, which was his only other loss before the event's quarterfinals this year, it was Alcaraz's second-earliest loss of the season.

In 2025, the 22-year-old Spaniard has won eight trophies, including three ATP 1000 titles, three ATP 500s, and two Grand Slams. He has a 90.5% season record of 67-8.

Escude's evaluation on the shock of Alcaraz's Exit from the Paris Masters
Escude offered his assessment of Alcaraz's defeat by Norrie in an interview with Eurosport France, calling the Spaniard's connection to the Paris Masters "complex."

After losing the second set, Escude remarked, "We witnessed a borderline listless Alcaraz, whining about the sensations he was having, exchanging extended exchanges with his team members."

He deviated from all of his previous actions over the previous few months. It is unexpected. His relationship with this competition is problematic at present, though.

Without denying Norrie credit for playing his part. He provided very little. Although he finished extremely well, he was a little unsteady in his penultimate serve game.

Escude's remarks before Alcaraz's Paris Masters campaign

Escude expressed concern about the six-time major winner's "hunger" at this point in the season, although he was unconcerned about Alcaraz's record on indoor hard courts before his appearance in Paris.

The Frenchman told Eurosport, "He broke his [indoor] duck in Rotterdam, even if it was not vintage Alcaraz.

"I would not say he was mentally blocked when he was inside. I do not think so. Given that it is a little slower than the indoor courts of the past, his game fits in well with modern circumstances.

"He will not have any more issues indoors if he stabilises things a little more, as he demonstrated during the course of two weeks in New York. He is the only one with everything he needs to function at the same level on every surface.

"How much does he want this season to end?" is the question. He will probably place first. Will he have the hunger to compete for titles he has not yet earned?

"I am having trouble predicting his condition coming into these final two rounds. The only small doubt mark is that.

Escude won four ATP Tour titles throughout his 1995–2006 career. He also advanced to the Australian Open semifinals and the Wimbledon and US Open quarterfinals.

The indoor record of Carlos Alcaraz

Indoor hard courts are Carlos Alcaraz's poorest surface by a wide measure, with a 31-13 (70%) record.

At the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam in February, the Spaniard claimed his lone indoor championship to date.

In his five appearances at the Paris Masters, the only Masters 1000 event held indoors, he currently has a 5-5 record.

In his two seasons in the season-ending ATP Finals on Turin's indoor hardcourt, Alcaraz is 3-4 (43%) overall.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC LANDS IN ATHENS AFTER HISTORIC AUSTRALIAN OPEN RUNNER-UP FINISH

After a historic loss to Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic returns to his family in Athens to reset for the 2026 tennis season.

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Novak Djokovic loses first-ever Australian Open final to unstoppable Carlos Alcaraz

After losing his first Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic just wanted to see his family.

Djokovic landed in Athens on Tuesday, wrapping up two weeks away from home and marking his 38th appearance in a major final.

For the first time ever, Novak walked away from Rod Laver Arena with the runner-up trophy. At 36, he became the oldest finalist in Australian Open history, but Alcaraz stopped him in four sets: 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. The match lasted just over three hours.

This was Djokovic's first tournament in more than two months, and even so, he showed why people call him a legend. He cruised through the first three rounds and reached the last 16 without much fuss.

In the fourth round, Jakub Mensik had to pull out with an abdominal injury, so Novak got a walkover and saved some energy for the big matches ahead. But things nearly fell apart a few days later. Lorenzo Musetti took the first two sets in their quarterfinal, and for a moment, Djokovic looked like he might be headed home early. Then, out of nowhere, Musetti retired in the third set, and suddenly Novak was through to his 13th Australian Open semi-final.

Next up was Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champ. Djokovic had to dig deep. Twice he came back from a set down and eventually won 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 after more than four hours on court. He fought off 16 out of 18 break points and weathered over 70 winners from Sinner, proving that belief really does go a long way. At 36, he marched into his 38th major final.

Djokovic left everything on court against Alcaraz. He started strong, but the Spaniard found his rhythm and took control in the second and third sets, racking up five breaks. In the fourth, Novak saved six break points early on and kept pace, even earning a break chance at 4-all. Then he missed a forehand he’d usually make, and just like that, his shot at a fifth set slipped away.

Alcaraz broke late in the set and sealed the win, handing Djokovic his first-ever loss in an Australian Open final. Now, Novak’s taking some time off to be with his family. He’s expected back on court soon, probably in Doha, but right now, only he knows how his schedule will look.

WHO IS SAMUEL LOPEZ? MEET THE COACH BEHIND CARLOS ALCARAZ’S 2026 AUSTRALIAN OPEN GLORY

Discover the touching moment Carlos Alcaraz saw coach Samuel Lopez receive a trophy after his Australian Open victory.

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Samuel Lopez is the perfect strategic fit for Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz just pulled off something huge—he beat Novak Djokovic in four sets (2:6, 6:2, 6:3, 7:5) to win the Australian Open. With this win, he joins the legends of the Open era, becoming one of the rare players to snag at least one title at all four Grand Slams.

Here’s the wild part: Alcaraz is just 22. Actually, he turns 23 on May 5, so he’s still got plenty of time. This marks his seventh Grand Slam title already. For a bit of perspective, Djokovic had only one Grand Slam trophy at Alcaraz’s age.

Since he’d never won the Australian Open before, Alcaraz didn’t really know the drill for the trophy ceremony. His coach, Samuel Lopez, got a trophy too, which caught Carlos off guard—in a good way. Their partnership has clearly paid off.

Talking to the media, Alcaraz said he loved that coaches get recognised with their own trophy. He hadn’t seen that before and thought it was a fantastic idea, since a champion’s journey isn’t a solo effort. Watching Samuel Lopez get his moment meant a lot to him. “It’s wonderful, and when I saw him there, I was so happy because I know Samuel has been working toward this moment his whole life. For me, he’s one of the best coaches—if not the best—you can have on a tennis court today. For me, it was a magical and incredibly special moment: hugging him after the last point and also seeing him there, with everyone recognising what he deserves,” Alcaraz said.

Not everyone was convinced after Alcaraz split with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and started working with Lopez. Some experts doubted whether he could keep dominating the tour this year. But after Melbourne, it looks like Alcaraz isn’t going anywhere. Even without Ferrero, he’s still leading the pack.

With three more Grand Slams coming up this season, it’s shaping up to be a wild ride. You get the feeling that we’ll be watching Alcaraz and Sinner battling for the biggest prizes all year long.

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