Carlos Alcaraz-conqueror Tomas Machac issues sarcastic apology to Spaniard for dominant display in Shanghai Masters QF

Carlos Alcaraz and Tomas Machac exchanged friendly banter after their entertaining clash at the Shanghai Masters. The duo butted heads in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 on October 11, with Machac taking home the win.

Carlos Alcaraz came into the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals after winning 12 matches on the trot. However, his streak was ended by a spirited display from Tomas Machac, who prevented the Spaniard from dictating the match with his impeccable serving and high winners tally.

Machac took the one-set advantage via a tiebreaker and broke Alcaraz at the end of the second set to win the contest 7-6 (5), 7-5. The Czech player's second top 5 win of the year allowed him to reach his maiden Masters 1000 semifinal. After the contest, Alcaraz showed incredible humility and congratulated Machac via an Instagram Story.

Tomas Machac thanked Alcaraz for his kind words and offered a hilarious apology for the 'level he showed' during their match.

"Congratulations @tomas machac! Well played today. I am disappointed to lose, but happy with a great Asian swing!" Alcaraz wrote.

"Thank you Sorry for my level today," Machac responded, resharing Alcaraz's Instagram story.

Screenshot from Instagram

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"I felt like I was playing a top-5 player" - Carlos Alcaraz on Tomas Machac

Tomas Machac (Source: Getty)

Carlos Alcaraz was highly impressed by Machac's performance during their match on October 10 and even compared the Czech's level to a top 5 player. In his post-match interview, the four-time Grand Slam champion praised the World No. 33 for stepping up on a big occasion and not showing any weakness throughout the match.

“I felt like I was playing against a Top-5 player. Not even Top 10, no, Top 5. His level was so high. I thought that he was going to give me an opportunity, a window, but he didn't," Alcaraz said.

"From the first game until the last one, his level was so high. His ball speed, it was unbelievable. Honestly, I felt good on the court, I felt the ball really well, I was hitting well, I was moving well. But, at some points, I didn't know what to do," he added.

Machac will now face World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters on October 12. This will be the second tour-level meeting between the two. Sinner won their previous contest, beating Machac in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Miami Open.

The Italian is in search of his seventh title of the year and defeated Daniil Medvedev in his quarterfinal contest in Shanghai. Meanwhile, Machac has bettered Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Aleksander Vukic, Tommy Paul, and Carlos Alcaraz to reach the Shanghai semifinals.