Doubles
Goransson/Michelsen Stun Top Seeds Arevalo/Pavic to Advance to Shanghai Doubles Final
Unseeded duo shines with a perfect record
October 10, 2025
Rolex Shanghai Masters
Alex Michelsen and Andre Goransson aim for their inaugural ATP Masters 1000 title.
By Greg Sharko
In a thrilling match, unseeded Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen triumphed over the top seeds, Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, with a scoreline of 7-6(2), 2-6, 10-7 on Friday, propelling them into the final of the esteemed Rolex Shanghai Masters.
This dynamic first-time pairing faced a tough challenge, fumbling on all seven break points throughout the one-hour and 41-minute encounter, including a disheartening 0 for 5 in the opening set. However, despite Goransson experiencing breaks in both the fourth and eighth games of the second set, they showcased remarkable resilience during the decisive Match Tie-break.
With a 3-0 lead in the final tie-break, they saw the scoreboard tied at 3-3. The tension escalated as both teams held serve until Arevalo double-faulted at 7-8. Arevalo’s final shot sailed wide on match point, sealing the victory for the Swedish-American duo.
“Just a few days before heading to the Laver Cup, he texted me, and I thought, why not?” Michelsen reflected on their partnership. “And here we are in the finals!”
Goransson makes history as the first Swede to reach the doubles final in this tournament’s history since 2009. He hopes to become the first Swede to clinch an ATP Masters 1000 doubles title since Robert Lindstedt’s win in 2012 at Cincinnati. This will mark Goransson’s first ATP Masters 1000 final and his eighth overall (current record: 3-4). His most recent title was in April at the 500-level tournament in Munich alongside Sem Verbeek, following previous victories in Newport and Pune.
“It feels incredible. This is my first Masters 1000 final, so I’m absolutely thrilled,” stated Goransson. “The final moments were nerve-wracking, but it’s fantastic to emerge victorious.”
In parallel, Michelsen is the first American to reach the Shanghai doubles final since 2016, showcasing a strong resurgence for U.S. doubles. At just 21 years old, the Californian is competing in his third ATP Tour final (record: 0-2), following earlier defeats in Stuttgart and Cincinnati.
“This feels amazing,” Michelsen expressed. “The team that we just beat is the one I lost to in the Cincinnati final last year, so it’s incredibly satisfying to have this win over them. We can’t wait for the challenge ahead in the final.”
Next up, Goransson and Michelsen will face either the No. 3 seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz or the alternates Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard, who are set to battle it out in the semifinals on Saturday.
