PremiumShanghai Masters 2024: Jannik Sinner vs Tomas Machac in first semi-final encounter
Shanghai Masters 2024: A Sinner-Alcaraz semi-final was the most widely anticipated outcome on October 10, but Tomas Machac had other plans
Last Updated: 06.52 PM, Oct 10, 2024
When World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev took the court in the first quarter-final of the Shanghai Masters 2024 on October 10, the duo had a 6:7 head-to-head track record, with the latter having a slight edge. For a long time, Medvedev absolutely dominated Sinner, winning 6 encounters between 2020 and 2023, most of which were on indoor hard courts. But then, Sinner turned the tide around, winning the next 5, then conceding one and winning another. In 2024, Sinner had the upper hand, defeating Medvedev at two Grand Slam events – the Australian Open and the more recent US Open.
How Sinner and Machac sealed semi spots
On October 10, Sinner was a man on a mission, determined to let nothing stand in his way, demolishing Medvedev with a straight set win 6-1 6-4. Sinner converted every break point opportunity he had in the match to make quick work of Medvedev.
Machac was clinical in his match against World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz, dispatching the latter in straight sets 7-6 7-5. This was only their second ever encounter, with Alcaraz having won the earlier one. At the Shanghai Masters, though, Machac was, undoubtedly the better player. Alcaraz, who was fresh from his victory at the China Open earlier this month, where he defeated Sinner in the final, was left watching as Machac unleashed a flurry of winners that whizzed past him.
On October 12, Sinner will meet Machac, which is their second match so far. Sinner won the earlier one at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami at the quarter-final stage and is expected to repeat the same on Saturday. Incidentally, this is the first Shanghai Masters semi for both players.
Meanwhile, the second set of quarter-finals will be played on October 11, with four-time champion Novak Djokovic taking on Jakub Mensik, while Taylor Fritz has David Goffin as his opponent. This will be 19-year-old Mensik’s first time playing Djokovic, who the former considers his biggest inspiration to take to the sport. Fritz and Goffin are split 1: 1 in their head-to-head record, and it’s been three years since their last encounter.
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