British No. 2 Cameron Norrie was unable to capitalize on his stunning victory over World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, exiting the Paris Masters in the Round of 16 with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 loss to Valentin Vacherot on Thursday, October 30.
Norrie entered the clash fresh off his impressive comeback victory against Alcaraz. The win had been particularly special as it marked his first triumph over a reigning World No. 1 — a result he called the biggest win of his career.
“It was the biggest win of my career,” Norrie said after defeating Alcaraz.
However, against Vacherot, the 30-year-old Brit failed to convert any of his five break points during the match. In contrast, Vacherot seized his sole opportunity in the fifth game of the second set, giving him the crucial edge to close out the contest.
The Monegasque player, who stunned the sporting world earlier by winning the Shanghai Masters, maintained his composure under pressure. Two of Norrie’s later chances to break came in the eighth game, but Vacherot held firm to serve out the match and secure a place in the quarter-finals.
This defeat means Norrie has yet to reach a singles quarter-final since Wimbledon. For Vacherot, it marked his 10th consecutive victory at Masters events, continuing his strong run following his Shanghai triumph.
Author’s summary: Norrie’s failure to convert break points cost him a quarter-final berth, while Vacherot extended his remarkable Masters winning streak to ten matches.