Vacherot Shocks Djokovic in Shanghai Semifinals, Making M1000 History
Qualifier becomes the lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 history
October 11, 2025
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Valentin Vacherot stuns Novak Djokovic en route to the final at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
By Andy West
Valentin Vacherot’s meteoric rise at the Rolex Shanghai Masters reached new heights on Saturday, as the talented qualifier triumphed over four-time champion Novak Djokovic to secure his spot in the finals.
Ranked No. 204 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Vacherot achieved a stunning 6-3, 6-4 victory, becoming the lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 history since 1990. Remaining poised throughout the match, he capitalized on Djokovic’s physical struggles, as the Serbian sought medical attention for his lower back during the opening set.
Never stop believing 🤩
World No. 204 @val_vacherot defeats Djokovic to become the lowest ranked ATP Masters 1000 finalist in history.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/ha32DUf8Sc
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 11, 2025
With an impressive 78 percent success rate (28 out of 36) on first serves, Vacherot claimed this monumental win against World No. 5 Djokovic. Having entered the tournament as a last-minute qualifier, the 26-year-old is now set to face either his cousin Arthur Rinderknech or Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final.
With this victory, Vacherot is assured a spot in the Top 100 for the first time, surging 146 places to No. 58 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He joins an elite group of only six players this century to reach their inaugural ATP Tour final at a Masters 1000 event, the first since Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Monte-Carlo 2022.
Displaying remarkable composure amidst the pressure of his first match against Djokovic, Vacherot fired off 23 winners compared to Djokovic’s nine. He deftly managed a break point in the final game, eliminating any doubts before sealing his victory and receiving words of encouragement from Djokovic at the net.
Despite Djokovic’s customary determination, he faced significant challenges, particularly in the humid conditions that have plagued him throughout the tournament. Struggling with his physicality, he called for medical assistance at 3-4 in the opening set, subsequently losing the next game as he moved gingerly.
However, Vacherot’s task was far from over, as Djokovic appeared more agile in the second set. The Monegasque player maintained solid groundstrokes from both sides and seized control of the match during critical moments.
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