Inspired Machac stuns Alcaraz to reach Shanghai Masters semi-finals
Tomas Machac put in an excellent performance to reach his first Masters 1000 semi-final at the Shanghai Masters. He’ll meet Jannik Sinner in the last four
Carlos Alcaraz, Shanghai Masters, 2024 © Imago / Panoramic
Rising Czech talent Tomas Machac put on a brilliant display to upend world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz, beating the Spaniard 7-6 (5), 7-5 to move into the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
Machac reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final in style, playing decisive, clinical tennis executed at a consistently high level to rattle a somewhat subdued Alcaraz in two closely-contested sets.
With world No 1 Jannik Sinner already safely through and awaiting the winner in the last four, most observers will have had one eye on a likely rematch between the tour’s best two players in the next round, with the pair having played yet another classic in Beijing last week in the latest instalment of their ever burgeoning rivalry.
But Machac had no intention of abiding by this script, instead laying down his intentions early with excellent serving and some breathless baseline rallies, clearly displaying his ability to go toe-to-toe with the Spaniard.
As a very tight opening set barrelled towards a tiebreak finish, the only questions were around Machac’s mental fortitude and capacity to maintain his high standard for the duration.
The first of these concerns was answered emphatically at the end of the first set, as the Czech world No 33 stepped up his intensity when the stakes were highest to clinch an entertaining tiebreak 7-5 and move into a one-set lead.
Machac then resolutely showed that his level was not going to drop as he broke serve for the first time in the match in the third game of the second set.
Alcaraz struck back in the sixth game to force another closely-fought stanza, but it was Machac who remained the more consistent of the two, breaking again in the eleventh game before comfortably serving out the biggest win of his career.
“I was playing unbelievable,” Machac said following victory.
“I knew my level would be great because I’m playing the best I have right now.
“I had to play this level, otherwise, it is 6-2 6-3 and you go home. I am happy that I managed to play like this for two sets. I knew I had a chance. But you never know. With players like him, if you have a set and are serving at 5-4, it’s really far from winning the match.”
alcaraz departs as sinner awaits machac
The 23-year-old Czech is now into his maiden Masters 1000 semi-final, having snapped the 12-match winning streak of the ATP’s most in-form player.
A date will the world No 1 beckons in Shanghai, and he will again be the underdog against Sinner in the last four. But this is undoubtedly a career-defining result for the world No 33, who has been knocking on the door for some time now.
For Alcaraz, defeat in the last eight when on such a rich run of form will be a blow he had not anticipated. But after rectifying his desperately poor US hard-court swing with twelve straight wins and a fourth title for the season, the Spaniard will depart the Asian stretch feeling much better about his tennis than he would have been a month ago.
Next up will be the European indoor swing – the final leg of the year – as Alcaraz looks to end another superb season on a high.
