Matching Report
Machac shocks Alcaraz, reaches Shanghai SF
The Czech will face Sinner for a place in the first ATP Masters 1000 final
October 10, 2024
Hector Retamal/Getty Images
Tomas Machac advances to his third ATP Tour semifinal at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
By ATP staff
Tomas Machac ended Carlos Alcaraz’s 12-match run in dramatic fashion on Thursday to reach the last four of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Competing in the quarter-finals of the tour’s third tier, No. 33 in the PIF ATP Rankings ignited his blistering tennis to reduce the threat of World No. 2, won 7-6 (5), 7-5. In a match where both players produced top-quality tennis, Machac found another gear to record his second win over a Top-5 opponent (Djokovic, Geneva SF).
“I knew that the quality of my tennis would be good because I am playing the best right now,” said Machac. “I beat Tommy Paul [in my] The ultimate game with unbelievable performance. With this type of players, I have to play this level otherwise 6-2, 6-3 [and] you go home, there is no other way. I am happy that I was able to play like this for two sets.
“I knew I had a chance [to beat Alcaraz]but you can’t, even a set and 5-4 [lead] it’s still a long way from winning the game. I played great tennis against him in the Davis Cup [in September]but there was this level [for] only one set. Today was the case [for] two, so that’s enough.”
Czech this! 🤯
Machac takes down Alcaraz to reach the semi-finals in Shanghai, where he will face Sinner!@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/kabm9UMx6U
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 10, 2024
Machac led by a set in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head against Alcaraz at the Davis Cup last month, but was forced to retire when the Spaniard leveled the match. The 23-year-old made no mistake this time, though, hitting 20 winners in the opening set before breaking Alcaraz’s game in the third game of the second.
Alcaraz showed signs of fighting back after he got the break back, but the Czech continued to build confidence to prevail in one hour and 54 minutes, winning 100 percent (7/7) of the net points in the second set, according to Alcaraz. Infosys ATP statistics.
Machac, who opted to play an ATP Challenger Tour event instead of the Rolex Shanghai Masters last year, is now ranked No. 25 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He will face World No. 1 Jannik Sinner a place in the final after the Italian eased past Daniil Medvedev to reach his first semi-final in Shanghai.
After the fourth-ranked player made the lowest semi-final in Shanghai tournament history, Machac will bid to level his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Sinner after losing 6-4, 6-2 in the ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals. Miami.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Machac said of his clash with Sinner. “I’m really enjoying it and I’m happy that I can play with the best [players].”
