Carlos Alcaraz claimed the Beijing Open title following an epic win over Jannik Sinner. The Spaniard could not repeat that in Shanghai, falling to world no. 33 Tomas Machac 7-6, 7-5. The Czech earned his third top-10 win, overpowering the four-time Major champion and stunning him with the pace of his forehand.
Alcaraz praised his opponent, placing his level in the top-5. Tomas retired against Carlos in the Davis Cup due to physical issues. However, there was nothing wrong with his game in Shanghai, attacking world no. 2 and overpowering him in the pivotal moments of both sets.
The Spaniard did not play a bad match, taking only two points fewer than his rival and playing better behind the first and second serve. Still, he felt the constant pressure of producing deep balls, or his rival would punish him with a winner.
Machac experienced eight break points, five in the sixth game of the second set, denying seven and keeping the pressure on the better-ranked opponent.
Alcaraz faced only four break points, suffering two breaks and ending his campaign in the quarter-final.
Carlos landed 25 winners and 19 unforced errors, outplaying Tomas’ 30-32 ratio. The Spaniard fired more service winners and had a slight edge from the baseline. However, the Czech took charge and produced flawless numbers at the net, keeping the points on his racquet and winning the pivotal ones.
They stayed neck and neck in the shortest and more advanced exchanges, and it all came down to Machac’s better performance in the opener and a late break in set number two. Tomas faced two deuces in the first game of the match, keeping his rival away from break points and holding with a forced error.
Carlos grabbed the second game at love with an unreturned serve and made a push on the return at 1-1, seeking an early advantage. The Spaniard landed a forehand return winner to prolong the game and earned a break point after the rival’s backhand error.
Carlos Alcaraz suffered a tight loss to Tomas Machac at the Shanghai Masters.
Machac saved it and endured a couple of more deuces for a vital hold and a 2-1 lead.
Alcaraz left that chance behind and closed the fourth game with a powerful serve for 2-2. The Czech grabbed the fifth game at 15 with a forehand drive-volley winner before world no. 2 locked the result again with a fine hold a few minutes later.
Tomas faced more issues in the seventh game despite a 40-15 lead. Carlos climbed back to deuce with a volley winner, generating a break chance after the rival’s loose stroke. Machac erased it with a powerful serve and produced another vital hold that kept him on the positive side.
There were no chances for the returners in the final five games, with Alcaraz holding in game 12 to introduce a tie break. They traded early mini-breaks for 2-2, and Tomas attacked with his forehand to open a 4-2 gap. The Czech attacked in the seventh point, earning another mini-break with a smash winner.
Carlos climbed back before hitting an error following Tomas’ deep return, facing two set points.
World no. 33 converted the second with a forehand drive-volley winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 62 minutes.
They served well early in the second set before the Spaniard faced issues at 1-1, playing against two break points. He denied the first with an unreturned serve before the Czech seized the second with a forehand return, causing a mistake from world no.
2 and moving a set and a break in front. Machac faced a break point in the next one, keeping his aggressiveness and canceling it with a forced error. Tomas slammed a forehand winner at the net for a hold and a 3-1 advantage.
The Spaniard made the ultimate push on the return in the fifth game, generating five break points.
He captured the last with a deep return, drawing the Czech’s mistake and leveling the score at 3-3. They served well in the upcoming games, and Machac needed another fine hold at 4-5. World no. 33 felt no pressure, attacking and terminating the game after a mistake from world no.
2. The tension moved to the other side, and Alcaraz cracked under it. Tomas won the opening point at the net and created two break chances after Carlos’ wayward forehand. The lower-ranked player punched a backhand crosscourt winner for a decisive break, opening a 6-5 advantage and serving for a notable win.
Machac rushed to the net in the 12th game, holding at love and sending the four-time Major winner packing.
“I felt like I played against a top-5 player. Tomas produced a high level from start to finish and did not give me any opportunity.
His ball speed is incredible. I felt good on the court and my strokes had power and depth. I moved well, but at some point, I did not know what to do and how to impose my game. I could not play to his forehand, and it was insane, as he hit one winner after another from that wing.
I could not believe it. He pushed me to the limits all the time, hitting a winner whenever I would sent a bit shorter ball. Tomas pressured me, and it made the difference,” Carlos Alcaraz said.