Machac hits back-to-back left-handed shots, breaks Medvedev with winning pass

Tomas Machac can seemingly do no wrong on a tennis court these days.

Machac upset world No 1 Novak Djokovic on his way to last week’s Geneva final and now he is producing more magic at Roland-Garros. The 23-year-old Czech came up with arguably the shot of the tournament when he hit a winning passing shot with his left hand against Daniil Medvedev during their third-round match on Saturday afternoon.

Machac actually hit two left-handed shots in a row, the second of which left Medvedev hopelessly watching it go by him at the net. It gave the world No 34 a break of serve for a 3-2 lead in the first set.

“I think it’s not normal,” Machac said, “but I’m trying to play it sometimes in practice, because I like to play left-handed or one-handed backhand — try to enjoy myself on the court. Yeah, when you try to win the point you try everything. I [had] to play lefty.”

Machac is an impressive 18-8 on the main tour this season after beating Nuno Borges and Mariano Navone in the first two rounds in Paris. This is his second meeting with Medvedev, who won their first encounter 6-3, 6-2 at the 2022 Indian Wells Masters.

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