Rafael Nadal dropped a bombshell on Thursday and highlighted that evolution is key in every field. The post Carlos Alcaraz's Shanghai Masters Heartbreak Takes a Backseat as He Expresses Immense 'Shock' Over Rafael Nadal's Abrupt Retirement Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Carlos Alcaraz admits he was in ‘shock’ when he learned the news of Rafael Nadal ’s retirement an hour before he stepped on court at the Shanghai Masters. Nadal is Alcaraz’s tennis icon and the 21-year-old has admitted that news of his mentor bowing out of the sport after November’s Davis Cup is “really difficult” to hear.

Machac came into this quarter-final contest with confidence having been deadlocked with Alcaraz at one-set all in last month’s Davis Cup, only to have to retire because of cramps. “I knew that I had a chance (to win), but you never know, even with a set and 5-4 it’s still so far from winning the match,” Machac added.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz has been knocked out of the Shanghai Masters in straight sets by 33rd-ranked Tomas Machac, losing 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 on Thursday.

Tomas Machac will compete in his first Masters 1000 semi-final in Shanghai! World no. 33 stunned world no. 2 and the Beijing Open champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-5, delivering his third top-10 victory and setting the semi-final clash against world no.

Alcaraz beat Sinner to win the China Open title last week, and a rematch against the world number one looked on the cards with the Spaniard going up against the world number 33. Yet Machac had other ideas and prevailed 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 on Thursday.

In the Rolex Shanghai Masters quarterfinals on Thursday, Carlos Alcaraz meets Tomas Machac.Alcaraz’s last match was a win, 7-5, 6-2, over Karen Khachanov on September 30, 2024 in the

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

World number two Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters in straight sets by 33rd-ranked Tomas Machac on Thursday, losing 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.

Carlos Alcaraz conceded that Rafael Nadal’s retirement is “really difficult news for everybody” after his compatriot confirmed his career would end after the Davis Cup Finals. Former world No 1 and 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal confirmed in a video message released earlier today that he would call time on his legendary career after action in Malaga this November.