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SportsMoll previews Saturday's Shanghai Masters semifinal between Janic Sinner and Tomasz Machak, including predictions, head-to-head and their matches so far.
11th meeting between Jannik Pavi And Carlos Algaraz Expected in Shanghai Masters Semi-finals, that's all Thomas Machak Stifled the Spaniard in Thursday's quarter-finals to set up a last-four clash with the world No.1.
As the final Masters 1000 event of 2024 approaches its climax, both players battle it out on Saturday for a spot in Sunday's decider.
Competition preview
© Imago
Bavi always wanted to get good Daniel MedvedevAnd the Italian won 6-1, 6-4 against the Russian to level the score at 7-7.
Having been beaten in six straight games by the former No 1 at the start of their match, the 23-year-old has won seven of their next eight meetings. ATP TourIncluding this year's incredible Australian Open final comeback from two sets down.
Thursday's quarter-final win over Medvedev, who has struggled with a shoulder problem, means Sinner has reached his 11th semi-final in 2024 – no player has played in the last four on tour – and the first since Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2022. Five of the Masters 1000 events appear in the semifinals.
The result, recording his 63rd win of the year, now sees him do battle with the in-form Machak for the second time, with the Czech's victory in Algaras guaranteeing the Italian the year-end No.1 ranking.
Fresh off his 51st win in Masters 1000 events on hard courts, Sinner heads into Saturday's last-four clash with a confident player who will no doubt punch on both wings.
© Imago
The visitors wanted a rematch in a thrilling Sinner-Algaras final in Beijing, but they won the player of the season and year-end no. 1 to carry Machac.
Evidence of his stunning run to the semi-finals in his Shanghai Masters debut, where he triumphed. Tommy Paul The four-time Grand Slam champion lost 7-6(5), 7-5 to guarantee a shock last-four appearance.
His stunning win over the Spaniard ended the world No. 2's 12-match winning streak and marked the 23-year-old's third straight win against a top-10 player this season. Andrei Rublev Miami Masters and Novak Djokovic in Geneva.
Although he beat Djokovic at the Geneva Open, beating Algaraz in Shanghai was the biggest win of Machak's career.
He became the fourth lowest-ranked player to advance to the semi-finals at the event – following Kei Nishikori (No. 47 of 2011), Feliciano Lopez (41, 2009) and Juan Monaco (41, 2010) – and first player outside the top 30 since ranking 32nd Giles Simon In 2016, the world number 33 will now aim to stun Sinner to advance to Sunday's championships.
The match so far
Janic Bavi:
First round: Goodbye
Second round: vs Taro Daniel 6-1 6-4
Third Round: vs Thomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7[3] 6-4 6-2
Round 16: vs Ben Sheldon 6-4 7-6[1]
Quarter Finals: vs. Daniil Medvedev 6-1 6-4
Thomas Machak:
First round: Goodbye
Second round: vs Alexander Davydovich 1-6 7-6[3] 6-4
Third Round: vs Alexander Vukich 6-4 6-2
Round 16: vs. Tommy Ball 3-6 6-4 6-3
Quarter Finals: vs. Carlos Algarz 7-6[5] 7-5
Head to head
Miami Masters (2024) – Quarterfinals: Sinner 6-4 6-2
Sinner claimed victory in his only match against Machak en route to the title in Miami, winning in straight sets.
The Italian enters Saturday's semifinals with a 43-3 hard-court record in 2024, with Algaraz (twice – Indian Wells and Beijing) and Rublev (Canada Masters) the only players to beat him this season, underscoring the top spot. Persistence of seeds during this season.
We say: Bavi to win in three sets
Algaraz is so talented and plays so differently on tour that he is prone to upsets like the one he suffered against Machak on Thursday.
Sinner's ability to deal with opponents with efficient weapons on the forehand and backhand wing and his ability to grind out wins despite not playing top-level tennis should see him beat Machak and advance to the maiden Shanghai final.
