Machac And Mensik: Czech-Mating Their Way Into Shanghai Masters Last Eight

Tomas Machac
Tomas Machac (photo: ATP Tour video)

SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON, October 10, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

As the Rolex Shanghai Masters has reached the quarterfinal round in the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 of the season, there’s a distinct Czech feeling to the last eight. That’s because there’s two — count ‘em, two — players from the Czech Republic remaining in the draw.

Much to the surprise of everyone, No. 30 seed Tomas Machac from Beroun (a town in the Central Bohemian Region) and 65th-ranked Jakub Mensik from Prostejov (a city in the Olomouc Region) have gone about their business of beating any and all comers — including Top-10 talent — to advance to the quarterfinals in China.

The 33rd-ranked Machac, 23, began his run last week with a comeback win over No. 64 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, and followed it with a solid 6-4, 6-2 victory against 91st-ranked Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic. On Wednesday, Machac upset No. 11 seed Tommy Paul of the United States, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Meanwhile, Mensik, the 19-year-old #NextGenATP rising star, has scored a pair of Top-10 upsets — against World No. 6 and sixth seed Andrey Rublev of Russia in the second round, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3, and on Wednesday, Mensik eliminated World No. 10 and ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, in the fourth round, in which he struck 27 overall winners — including 10 aces — to reach his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

Thanks to his successful run in Shanghai, Mensik is the currently the fourth-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.

“Yeah, we have a good team right now, we are going really up,” Machac told reporters after hitting 37 winners and converting three of nine break points against Paul. “I would say we practice a lot between each other, we try to help each other somehow. So it’s good to have this kind of players on the tour, and pushing each other, helping each other. It’s great for Czech tennis.”

Adds Mensik: “I was watching [Tomas], obviously he was playing before me, you know. Yeah, I mean … for Czech tennis it’s really great, and very important that we are coming back on top, you know, not just me and Tomas, but obviously [No. 34] Jiri [Lehecka] is also there as well. So it’s really great that we are keep, we are pushing each other forward, and that’s really great, so, I mean, in the future we can reach big things.”

Machac credits Czech great Tomas Berdych, one of four Czech players to reach the Shanghai quarterfinals (in 2012 and 2014-15) and who is now coaching the Czechia Davis Cup team, for helping guide him and Mensik.

“Yeah, we spoke because he’s the captain of the Davis Cup now,” Machac said. “So, it’s good to have him on the team. He can discuss his career, he can help us. So, it’s great to speak about him with everything. Yeah, we’re looking forward to that and let’s see; we have good future.”

Mensik, for one, was happy to spend time with Berdych this week. “I’m happy that he was here, that we can chat a bit, you know. He can see us in the action, so it’s always really great to have him on your side,” he said.

Machac, who represented his country at the Paris Olympics and earned a gold medal in mixed doubles with Katerina Siniakova, will face World No. 2 and third seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in Thursday evening’s quarterfinal round. Recently, Alcaraz beat Machac in Davis Cup play by retirement after splitting a pair of sets. So, there is a recent history between the two. When Machac was asked how he sees his chances this time, he replied:

“You never know, but I think my chances are there. I’m playing right now great tennis, so let’s see. … I’m going to play good tennis, so looking forward to that.”

Meanwhile, Mensik will oppose four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic, 18 years his senior, in a quarterfinal match on Friday. He’s excited for the opportunity to play one of the all-time greats of tennis.

“Obviously, a dream come true, because of him I started to play tennis or, you know, when I was young,” Mensik said, “and, yeah, starting to play tennis, he was already on the top. You know, so I was like, ‘Wow, he’s really good, you know, he made a lot of Grand Slams.’ And right now, when I’m 19 and he’s still playing, I have this chance to play against him.

“Of course, when I started to play there was one wish to play against him, you know. So, I’m really happy that it came true and that I can play with him, and, yeah, we’ll see which level I am on Friday.”

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