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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.

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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.

CARLOS SAINZ HAILS SERGIO PEREZ’S PERSEVERANCE AS HE GAINS SECOND F1 SHOT

Carlos Sainz praises Sergio Perez's resilience in securing a Formula 1 return with the new Cadillac team. The Williams driver notes such "second chances" are rare, hailing Checo's proven talent and motivation for this new phase.

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Carlos Sainz highlights Perez’s earned return to F1 - COURTESY/PHOTO

The Williams driver, who signed a contract with the new American team that will compete next season, commended Perez's tenacity in an interview with El Heraldo de Mexico.

Throughout his whole Formula 1 career, Checo has already demonstrated his strength and talent as a driver and an athlete, according to Sainz. He is currently getting ready for a second, distinct phase, which really inspires him.

Such results are uncommon in contemporary Formula 1, he said. Only drivers who have truly left their imprint, such as Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, and Checo, are given another shot, Sainz continued.

Cadillac's debut, according to Sainz, will intensify grid rivalry.

It will be difficult for everyone, he remarked, to have two more vehicles on the circuit and another team with more than 500 workers.

DENZEL BENTLEY - ENDRA SAAVEDRA FIGHT ON HORIZON, PURSE BID HITS DELAY

The WBO has pushed for a resolution in the Denzel Bentley vs. Endra Saavedra middleweight eliminator. A deal for a Feb/March fight is near, avoiding a purse bid and moving the winner closer to a world title shot.

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Bentley-Saavedra fight postponed to 2026 - COURTESY/PHOTO

The WBO middleweight title eliminator was updated during the sanctioning body's annual meeting, as was to be expected.

However, considering the time, the most recent action was somewhat of a surprise.

The WBO's 38th annual convention in Bogota, Colombia, revealed Thursday that the long-ago-ordered elimination match between Denzel Bentley and Endra Saavedra is almost over. On behalf of Bentley, Lee Eaton of Queensberry Promotions told WBO officials that an agreement to hold the bout in February or March of next year is within reach.

Following the removal of two distinct purse bids from the program, this scenario occurred. Saavedra's promoter, No Limit Boxing, insisted that a session be set for Monday after determining that the fight had progressed to a stage where a settlement was impossible.

But after being rescheduled for Wednesday, the issue was taken off the calendar entirely and put up for discussion on the floor.

The persistent problem, at least before the convention, was No Limit's intention to hold the fight in Australia. One possible landing spot was as a co-star in the Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa performance in Queensland, which was just announced for January 16.

Other than the potential to upgrade the fight, which was initially scheduled in July, to an interim title match, Queensberry did not indicate a site for its plans to hold the event.

The current WBO 160-pound champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly, is also the IBF champion. On December 6 in San Antonio, Kazakhstan's undefeated Alimkhanuly will square off against WBA champion Erislandy Lara in a three-belt unification match.

Lara and WBC titlist Carlos Adames will square off in the fight, which Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) is presenting on Prime Video Pay-Per-View. Queensberry and No Limit want to further safeguard their fighters' rights before their own scheduled battle because it is possible that the Alimkhanuly-Lara victor would face Adames for the undisputed title.

The WBO did not receive a motion to consider Bentley-Saavedra's temporary title. Instead, there was a demand that the two parties either quickly come to an agreement or be ready for another purse bid date that would soon be on the calendar.

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