A year ago, if you weren’t paying close attention to the ATP Tour, you might not have heard much about Tomas Machac. That’s no longer the case. takin’ down the big names, climbing the ranks, and showing he’s got what it takes to be the best. And now, after going undefeated at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) in Guadalajara, his momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Among those impressed? None other than Patrick Mouratoglou, the co-founder of Tennis Majors and the visionary behind the UTS Tour. So, what did he say?

Tomas Machac didn’t just win his UTS debut—he dominated. Five matches, five wins, and a title in his very first appearance in this fast-paced, high-intensity format. His final victory against Belgium’s David Goffin capped off a perfect weekend. Oh yeah, no pressure at all.

“Yes, Machac really broke through the last months. His level goes high extremely fast. I see him as a top 10 player for sure,” said Mouratoglou, the former longtime coach of Serena Williams. “The quality of his game, his serve – he’s not a very tall player but you could see that players were struggling in returning his serve. The quality of his movement on the court, his intensity, his focus, I mean, these are qualities, when you have them all, you’re a top 10 player.”

If 2024 was the Czech tennis player’s breakout year, 2025 might be the one where he cements himself as a true contender. He started last season ranked No. 78, grinding his way through tournaments, trying to make a name for himself. Fast forward twelve months, and he’s sitting at a career-high No. 24 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

That rise didn’t happen by accident. Machac has been taking down some of the biggest names in the sport, proving that he belongs at the top. In 2024 alone, he earned victories over Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray (twice), and Stan Wawrinka. Beating one legend is impressive. Taking down four? That’s the kind of thing that gets people talking.

But what’s the match that really pushed him to his limits?

Tomas Machac reveals the match that proved himself to be a “great player”

Among all those big wins, one match stands out. At the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Machac reached his second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal, but he faced a massive challenge—Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off winning the Beijing title against Jannik Sinner.

Most players would have struggled under the pressure. Machac, however, delivered the performance of his career, stunning the Spaniard 7-6(5), 7-5.

“I think the season was unbelievable for me to show myself that I can play against the best players and I can win those matches,” the World No. 25 said.

He reflected on his Shanghai win, adding, “He was playing his best tennis, and even he said that he was playing great and I managed to beat him in straight sets. So that match showed me that I can really be a great player, but I need to focus on my tennis and trying to be healthy as much as possible.”

The rising Czech star is yet to win his first ATP Tour title, but he’s proven he belongs on the biggest stages. With his sharp movement, fierce intensity, and the ability to take down the world’s best, the Czech is quickly becoming a name no one wants to see in their draw.

Can he crack the Top 10 sooner than expected?