Machac teases Alcaraz after major upset at Shanghai Masters

SHANGHAI: Carlos Alcaraz was upset by Tomas Machac in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday, losing in straight sets to the Czech tennis player.

“Thank you. Sorry for my level today,” wrote Machah, teasing Alcaraz after the Spaniard congratulated him on social media for the win.

The Czech player ended the world number two’s 12 match unbeaten streak, and ruined a potential rematch between the Spaniard and Jannik Sinner.

FIRST SET

It was a hotly contested contest, with neither player able to get a break, leading to an eventual tiebreak in the first set.

Despite Alcaraz’s attempts to vary his offense, Machac wouldn’t allow himself to be forced on the defensive. The Spaniard attempted a drop shot early in the tiebreak to try and control the pace, but Machac was able to return and later win the point with a volley right at the net.

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Macach’s power was stunning, his shots blowing past Alcaraz and putting the Spaniard on the defensive, a position hes not use to playing. The Czech player eventually sealed the set, after Alcaraz barely got his racket to a vicious forehand from Machac. He managed to return it, but it was perfectly placed for another heavy forehand, that ended the set in emphatic fashion.

SECOND SET

Machac would get a break early on, in the third game of the set after the Czeck player placed his return of Alcaraz’s serve just far enough that the Spaniard wasn’t able to send it back.

After both players won their next service games, Alcaraz would get a break back. He won three straight points to put pressure on the Macac, but the Czeck player responded by winning three points in a row as well. However, the Spaniard would break through after Machac launched the ball well out of bounds.

With the set level at five games each, Macach would get another break, in what would become the most vital moment of the game. Leading 40 to 30, Alcaraz would hit a forehand barely within Machac’s range, before rushing to the net. Somehow, Macach would get enough on the backhand to clear the ball past Alcaraz and take a six to five game lead.

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Machac would make a statement in the final game of the match, closing out the contest in 4 straight points. The last point showed the level he was playing at on the day, rushing to the net after a powerful forehand, then returning Alcaraz’s backhand by laying the ball near the net, before finally ending his incredible performance with another volley that sent Alcaraz running the other way to no avail.

Tomas Machac will now face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday