Cameron Norrie eager for Carlos Alcaraz test: ‘I’m going to bring it to him’ | ATP Tour
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Nori longs for Alcaraz test: ‘I’m going to bring it to him’
Brit previews second-round match with top seed Alcaraz in Paris
October 27, 2025
Colleen Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Cameron Norrie will face Carlos Alcaraz for the second time this year in Paris on Tuesday.
Jerome Coombe
Cameron Norrie will be looking to end his season on a high for the second year in a row, and there will be no greater test than facing PIF ATP No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
The 30-year-old Briton will face Alcaraz in the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday, four months after losing to the Spaniard in straight sets in the Wimbledon quarter-finals. This time, under the bright lights of the La Défense Arena, Nouri was hoping for a very different result.
“It was a game to enjoy. He is one of the two best players in the world, between him and Jannik [Sinner]”, Nori told ATPTour.com. “I’m going to bring it to him… I fight him all the time, so I’m looking forward to this. “
Norrie struggled through the second round in Monday’s opener against Sebastian Baez. He broke serve six times in a 6-3, 6-4 victory, using the match as valuable court time to acclimate to the new conditions at his new home for the ATP Masters 1000 event.
“I was a little nervous, but playing in La Défense is a good new feeling,” said Nouri, currently ranked 31st in the world. “I think these are the kind of games you want to play in – when you get a little nervous and then you get over it – so that’s good.
“Good job [the nerves] In a real life competition scenario, when you are the favorite to win and you have to perform well. I was able to do that in some big moments, so I enjoyed it. “
Alcaraz currently lead their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 5-2 after beating Norrie at SW19, but the Brit has reason to believe this time around. Players noticed a noticeable change in court speed – a factor that Norrie believes allows his hard forehand to work.
“I definitely like it. I remember last year it was so fast and I couldn’t make too many balls,” Norrie said of the conditions. “It suits my game well, the ball has a little more bounce than I remember. The ball has always been low here before, so it’s really good for my forehand and I can get some good spin.”
However, facing Alcaraz is no easy task. The 22-year-old, who has won a tour-leading eight titles this year according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, entered his first ATP Tour event in high spirits since winning the Tokyo title.
“Especially on this court, where the ball bounces a lot, I have to make a lot of changes and be ready for anything,” Norrie said. “He played a very complete game and is one of the most confident players out there, so I have to do everything I can to have a chance.
“I’m going to put all this behind me and keep playing. Of course. [time for some revenge]he beat me very easily at Wimbledon, so I had to improve my level to have a chance to play with him. “
Nouri’s 2024 season was interrupted by a forearm injury that forced him to miss the Paris Olympics and the US Open, but he found form in the final event of the year, reaching the ATP 250 final in Metz.
Now, coming off a 2025 season with a win over Lorenzo Musetti in Washington, Norrie will use his grit and adaptability to take on the best. A win would be a statement for the former world number eight.
