Over a year ago, Tomas Machac played the Sarasota Open Challenger while ranked 125. Quietly he beat Brouwer, Kodat and Kubler and lost in the semis to Galan. I saw him almost every day praticing with his coach Daniel Vacek but he didn’t stand out in anyway. Nobody paid him much attention.
A lot has changed in a year for Machac who has blossomed into an elite ATP player and he just beat Carlos Alcaraz 76 75 today at Shanghai Rolex Masters, clinching the triumph with a forehand volley winner that Carlos was unable to handle. The 23 year old from Czech Republic ranked 33 ended Alcaraz’s 12 match win streak and will face world no. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.
The six-foot, 163 pounder won Olympic gold in mixed doubles this summer (with Katarina Siniakova) and also won a set vs Carlos at Davis Cup 76 before retiring after losing the second set 16. He beat Novak Djokovic in Geneva semis 64 06 61 but then lost the final to Casper Ruud 57 36. Machac hasn’t won an ATP title yet but that will change soon.
Machac began 2024 ranked 78 and has won 30 ATP matches this year compared to 8 last year.
With his uncanny ability to outsmart and outplay all time elite champions like Carlos and Novak and win an Olympic gold medal before the age of 24, it looks like Tomas Machac has only scratched the surface of what he will achieve on the ATP World Tour.
Czech Republic · Joma · Olympic gold medal · Tomas Machac · Yonex
Steve · October 10, 2024 at 9:53 am
Machac’s movement very much reminds me of Miloslav “The Big Cat” Mecir. Always on balance with quiet steps.
Scoop Malinowski · October 10, 2024 at 10:42 am
Absolutely perfect efficient technique on everything, smooth movements, fluid, makes it look easy. In a different way but also similar to the aesthetic technical perfection of Davydenko and Coric.