Tomas Machac will compete in his first Masters 1000 semi-final in Shanghai! World no. 33 stunned world no. 2 and the Beijing Open champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-5, delivering his third top-10 victory and setting the semi-final clash against world no.
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1 Jannik Sinner. Machac retired against Alcaraz in the Davis Cup a couple of weeks ago. He faced no issues at the penultimate Masters 1000 event of the season, though, overpowering the four-time Major champion in the closing stages of each set for a career-best result at this level.
With 300 ATP points on his tally, the Czech will crack the top-25 next week, hoping for more good results by the end of the season. The Spaniard ended his winning streak before facing his great rival Sinner, missing his chances in the opener and falling in the closing stages of the second set.
Carlos had a better percentage behind the first and second serve. Still, he claimed two points less than Tomas, losing ground in the pivotal moments and terminating his campaign earlier than expected.
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Machac faced eight break points, five in the sixth game of the second set.
He denied seven, mounting the pressure on the other side and seizing two of four break chances, the crucial one in the penultimate game of the duel. Alcaraz hit 25 winners and 19 unforced errors, besting the rival's 30-32 ratio.
World no. 2 had more service winners and a slight edge from the baseline. On the other hand, Machac attacked more and produced flawless numbers at the net. Nothing separated them in the shortest and more advanced exchanges, and it all came down to the final stage of both sets.
Tomas survived two deuces in the first game of the encounter and forced the rival's mistake for a hold. Carlos closed the second game at love with a service winner and made a push on the return in the next one, seeking an early advantage.
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The Spaniard extended the game with a forehand return winner and created a break chance after a backhand mistake from world no. 33.
Tomas Machac defeated Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at the Shanghai Masters.
Machac denied it with a strong hitting and survived a couple of more deuces to open a 2-1 advantage after an entertaining point.
World no. 2 produced a fine hold in the fourth game, firing a service winner and locking the result at 2-2. The Czech served well in the fifth game, landing a forehand drive-volley winner and holding at 15 for a 3-2 advantage.
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Alcaraz held at 15 in the sixth game after a loose backhand from his rival, keeping everything under control behind the initial shot and seeking more return chances. Tomas wasted a 40-15 lead in game seven, and Carlos reached a deuce with a volley winner.
World no. 2 welcomed an error from world no. 33, creating a break chance and squandering it after Machac's booming serve. The lower-ranked player brought the game home, surviving another scary moment and remaining on the positive side.
They served well in the last five games, offering the returners no chances and arranging a tie break. They traded mini-breaks for 2-2 before Tomas cracked a forehand winner for a 4-2 lead.
He attacked in the seventh point and grabbed another mini-break with a smash winner, extending the advantage and earning two set points with a deep return and the rival's mistake at 5-4.
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Machac seized the second with a forehand drive-volley winner, taking the opener after 62 minutes and gaining a boost. Alcaraz faced two break points in the third game of the second set. He saved the first with a powerful serve before his rival converted the second with a crafty forehand return, forging a set and a break advantage.
Remaining aggressive, Tomas saved a break point in the next one, causing the rival's mistake and cracking a forehand winner at the net to wrap up the game and move 3-1 in front. The Czech struggled behind the initial shot in the fifth game, playing against five break chances.
The Spaniard secured the last with a deep return and the rival's mistake, locking the result at 3-3 and returning to the positive side. Carlos served well in the ninth game, forcing his rival to repeat that in the next one to stay in the set.
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Feeling no pressure, Machac attacked with his forehand and caused an error from world no. 2, securing the game and making a push on the return in the next one. The Czech claimed the opening point with a winner at the net and earned two break chances after a massive forehand error from the Spaniard.
World no. 33 seized the second with a backhand crosscourt winner, opening a 6-5 advantage and moving closer to the finish line. Tomas served for the win in game 12 and covered the net superbly, holding at love and delivering one of his career-best wins.
