SHANGHAI — In a surprising turn of events, two cousins are set to clash in the final of the Shanghai Masters after qualifier Valentin Vacherot delivered a shocking upset against a limping Novak Djokovic, while Arthur Rinderknech mounted a fierce comeback to conquer Daniil Medvedev on Saturday.
Ranked 204th, Vacherot achieved the biggest victory of his career by defeating Djokovic with scores of 6-3, 6-4. As Djokovic sought to secure his 100th career title, the 26-year-old Vacherot now aims for glory against his cousin, who shares his Texas A&M roots.
Just hours after his stunning win over Djokovic, Vacherot returned to the court to embrace Rinderknech, celebrating his cousin’s impressive comeback victory of 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 over Medvedev and savoring this rare family achievement.
“We couldn’t have imagined this in our wildest dreams; it’s beyond a dream, and I doubt anyone in our family ever thought it would happen,” Rinderknech expressed. “After battling through so many matches, here we are, standing at the end—it’s just incredible.”
Vacherot, hailing from Monaco, was a last-minute addition to the qualifiers but has seized the moment throughout the week, including a standout win against Holger Rune in the quarterfinals.
“Is this really happening? I can’t believe it,” Vacherot remarked, still in disbelief after ousting Djokovic. “Competing against Novak was an extraordinary experience for me.”
Throughout the match, the 38-year-old Djokovic struggled with a painful hip, even taking a medical timeout after trailing 4-3 in the first set and managing to win just one point in the subsequent two games.
However, Djokovic was gracious in defeat, not attributing his struggles to his physical condition.
“It’s all about him,” Djokovic acknowledged. “I wish him all the best in the final; the better player won today.”
“Coming from qualifications, this is an incredible story,” added the 24-time Grand Slam champion. “I told him at the net that he’s had an outstanding tournament, and beyond his performance, his attitude has been remarkable.”
