Tomas Machac tops Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai, setting up semifinal against Jannik Sinner

We'll have to wait a little longer for the next collision between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. We won't have to wait very long at all for the next collision between Sinner and Tomas Machac—the Czech who ousted Alcaraz in the Shanghai quarterfinals, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

The 23-year-old's remarkable run at the ATP 1000 event continued, while the Spaniard's 12-match win streak, which includes a thrilling win over Sinner in Beijing, ends. Machac's three-set victory over Tommy Paul in the round of 16 was impressive, but Thursday's performance was on an entirely different level.

“I knew that the level of my tennis would be great because I am playing the best right now, for sure,” said Machac. “I beat Tommy Paul last match with an unbelievable performance.”

In an hour and 54 minutes, Machac played the aggressive brand of tennis necessary to combat Alcaraz. He won 19 of 20 points at net, and even though he struck 42 unforced errors, 31 winners flowed from his frame.

In truth, it was a clean contest from both players—and Alcaraz even won a greater percentage of first-serve points (76% to 72%) and second-serve points (55% to 54%) than Machac. But the underdog was cleaner in the clutch moments. He saved seven of eight break points, and prevailed in the opening-set tiebreaker. With the margins so fine, two breaks were enough to see him past Alcaraz in two sets.

Paul told Machac to "win this tournament, and he'll need to defeat Sinner—and perhaps Novak Djokovic, too?—in order to do so. Prior to Machac's win, Sinner sent off Daniil Medvedev, 6-1, 6-4.

But no one will relish playing Machac right now. Up to a career-high ranking of No. 33, Machac thrives on hard courts, having reached the fourth round of the US Open and the semifinals of Tokyo within the past few months. Earlier this year he reached his first career final, on clay in Geneva, and his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal, in Miami.

His opponent that day in South Florida? Sinner.

The Italian prevailed 6-4, 6-2, but Machac is ready for his next shot.

“I am looking forward to it,” Machac said. “I am really enjoying it and am happy that I can play against the best [players]."