In a stunning turn of events at the Shanghai Masters, Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic ended World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz's quest for the title. Machac triumphed over the Spaniard with a score of 7-6(5), 7-5 in the men's singles quarterfinals on Thursday.
Machac displayed remarkable skill and composure, putting significant pressure on Alcaraz with his quick serves and aggressive groundstrokes. This strategy paid off as he secured the first-set tiebreak, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Throughout the second set, both players exchanged breaks, showcasing their competitive spirit. However, Machac maintained his momentum and broke Alcaraz's serve once more in the 11th game, sealing his impressive victory.
Alcaraz praised Machac’s performance, noting, \"I feel like I was playing against a Top 5 player, not even Top 10. His level was so high. I thought that he was going to give me an opportunity, a window, but he didn't. His ball speed, it was unbelievable.\"
Reflecting on his overall experience in China, Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his progress. \"It has been a really good swing. Obviously lifting the trophy in Beijing was a great thing to achieve. Coming here, I went farther than last year, so it was a good point,\" he remarked.
Reference(s):
Alcaraz ousted by Machac, Sinner makes semifinals at Shanghai Masters
cgtn.com
