From Shanghai setback to Paris shock: Carlos Alcaraz struggles to find rhythm

For Carlos Alcaraz, the past three weeks have felt like a recurring nightmare.  

It all began when the world No. 2 suffered a defeat at the hands of Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters, allowing the Bulgarian to secure the biggest win of his career. Shortly thereafter, Alcaraz was unfortunately compelled to withdraw from the Basel tournament due to issues with his left foot and lower back.  

To add to his woes, on Tuesday night, the Spaniard once again faced disappointment as Roman Safiullin claimed the most sensational victory of his career, eliminating Alcaraz in the second round of the Paris Masters. 

After receiving a first-round bye in Paris, Alcaraz began the match with promising momentum in both sets. However, he faced resistance from Safiullin, who displayed a more consistent playing style. The Russian qualifier capitalized on Alcaraz's 27 unforced errors, taking advantage of his opponent's mistakes. 

In an uncharacteristically lackluster display, Alcaraz found himself with few solutions to counter his opponent's game. Despite a spirited late rally, he was unable to turn the tide and succumbed to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat against the 45th-ranked player in the world.  

"Against Carlos, you have to lift up the level and I managed to do this," said Safiullin. "From Carlos, it was not the best performance but I'm happy to win. Even if he is not in the best shape, it is still tough to win. Everything – tactical, physical, the mental part – is very important against him. To stay focused from beginning to the end is key. I'm glad I did it." 

Alcaraz's loss in the opening match of a Masters 1000 event is quite a departure from his usual form. His last defeat at the first hurdle dates back to his encounter with Tommy Paul in Montreal last year, where he was narrowly defeated in a thrilling three-set battle. 

Unfortunately, this latest setback leaves Alcaraz facing an arduous challenge in his quest to surpass Novak Djokovic and claim the top spot in the rankings before the season draws to a close.  

The recent viral footage of Alcaraz displaying his skills and giving Djokovic a challenging time during practice has created quite a buzz. However, following his early exit in Paris, the excitement and anticipation surrounding such a matchup will have to be put on hold for now.