Britain’s Cameron Norrie says he’s “excited and ready” for a high-profile encounter against world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the Paris Masters, after producing an assured straight-sets win over Sebastian Baez on Monday.

The 30-year-old, currently ranked 31st in the world, defeated Argentina’s Baez 6–3, 6–4 in a tight contest that featured six service breaks. The victory marked a confident return to form for Norrie, who started strongly by winning the first three games before being pegged back to 3–3. However, he quickly regrouped to claim the opening set and carried that momentum through to seal the match in just over 90 minutes.

“It got really tense when I went to serve it out,” Norrie admitted to Sky Sports afterward. “I told myself to imagine it was 0–30 just to stay focused — then it actually was. It was about staying composed and finishing the job. He’s a great competitor, so it felt good to come through that.”

Norrie now turns his attention to a blockbuster meeting with Alcaraz, who is making his first appearance since winning the Japan Open in late September. The Spaniard, last year’s third-round exit in Paris still fresh in memory, holds a 5–2 record against Norrie — including a straight-sets win in this year’s Wimbledon quarter-final.

Elsewhere, fellow Brit Jacob Fearnley fell to 12th seed Andrey Rublev 6–1, 6–4 on Centre Court. The 24-year-old struggled with consistency, hitting 11 double faults compared to Rublev’s two. Despite breaking into the world’s top 50 earlier this year, Fearnley has since slipped to 78th, citing nerves during key service games as a recurring issue.

Rublev, currently ranked 17th, moves on to face Learner Tien of the United States in the next round after the teenager overcame Nuno Borges 6–2, 7–6 (9–7).