Tomas Machac has been told he’s already hit the shot of the French Open. The Czech player was presented with a huge test in the third round as he was pitted against fifth seed and 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev.
Considering his popularity, entertaining playing style and propensity to quickly become the villain in his matches, Medvedev was the main pull for fans who turned up at Court Suzanne-Lenglen. However, the moment of the contest belonged to the 28-year-old’s opponent, as he pulled off a quite extraordinary shot to break the former World No.1.
At the time, Machac had two break points with the scores at 2-2 in the first set. In extraordinary fashion, Machac managed to use his left hand to return the ball before somehow finding a winner when the point looked destined to be Medvedev’s.
Medvedev sent Machac scrambling when he followed up his powerful, inside-out forehand to the backhand side with a delicate volley to the same area. Machac’s wrong-footed feet were all muddled and he was forced into moving the racket from his right hand to his left to swipe an improvised shot back.
Medvedev then placed another volley back into the same place, forcing the off-balanced Czech into making the same shot. At the second time of asking, Machac managed to prod the ball down the line and into the corner of the court, sparking rapturous cheers in the French capital and leaving spectators in disbelief.
As well as a lengthy standing ovation and a congratulatory glance from Medvedev, it also earned Machac the first break of the game. “Oh he’s got it, he’s got it with his left hand,” a stunned Max Chilton said in the commentary box.
After British tennis player Pippa Horn described the effort as “the shot of the tournament”, Chilton added: “Loving that, suddenly he became a leftie, quite extraordinary”.
Machac fist-pumped in celebration on his way back to his seat at the change of ends. As he sipped from his drink, he couldn’t stop smiling at the shot he made. However, Medvedev managed to regain his composure, breaking back before winning the first set 7-6.
After winning the second set 7-5, the Czech came roaring back with two breaks of serve to win the third set 6-1. However, Medvedev’s class got him through the difficult encounter, as he went on to close the match and book his place in the fourth round by taking the fourth and final set 6-4.
“It was a very hard match,” said Medvedev, after the match. “I’m happy I stayed consistent despite some tough moments in the third set.”
Up next for the Russian will be a difficult clash against Australian ace Alex de Minaur. The No.11 seed overcame German giant Jan-Lennard Struff 4-5, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to book his place in round four.
He also overcame Jaume Munar and Alex Michelsen in straight sets in the preceding rounds.
