Carlos Alcaraz surprised Tomas Machac at Shanghai Masters

World number two Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock defeat to an inspired Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

Machac, who is ranked 33rd in the world, won a tightly contested first set tie-break before emerging victorious 7-6 (7-5) 7-5.

Alcaraz put his Czech opponent’s serve under pressure in the first set but failed to secure two break points before losing in a tie-break just over an hour later.

Machac then broke the Spaniard in the third game of the second set, but Alcaraz equalized at 3-3.

However, shaky play at 5-5 cost Alcaraz his serve, before Machac maintained his composure to serve for the win.

“I was playing unbelievable,” Machac said. “I knew my level would be great because I’m playing the best I have right now.

“I had to play at this level, otherwise it’s 6-2 6-3 and you go home. I’m happy I was able to play like that for two sets.”

Machac will face world number one Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, with the Italian beating Daniil Medvedev 6-1 6-4.

Sinner dropped just two points as he took a 3-0 lead and won the first set in 25 minutes.

Medvedev appeared to be in physical difficulties – he held his right shoulder after breaking it in the sixth game and received treatment after the opening set.

He improved and made the match more competitive, but – 40-0 on serve in the fifth game of the second set – he was broken again by Sinner, suffering the game with a double fault.

Medevev took a medical break after the seventh game before Sinner completed a comfortable victory in one hour and 24 minutes.

“I’m very happy with the way I handled this match,” Sinner said.

“It looked like he had a little pain in his shoulder, he couldn’t hit his forehand as well as he would have liked.

“It was a great match, a great battle and we’ll see what I can do in the semi-finals.”

Meanwhile, Frenchman Richard Gasquet has announced he will retire after next year’s French Open.

“I think it’s the best time to do it,” the 38-year-old, two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, told L’Equipe.

“It’s the best tournament to do this. It’s magnificent, we have the chance, being French, to be able to stop in these incredible places.”