Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025: Winners and Their Prize Money + Historic Milestones
The 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters concluded with one of the most astonishing and emotional finals in the history of the ATP Tour, seeing a qualifier rewrite the record books. The two-week Masters 1000 event was a mix of unexpected upsets, historic milestones, and a beautiful family story that captured the attention of the sports world.
Singles Final: Vacherot Completes the Impossible Dream
The singles final delivered the most memorable moment, crowning qualifier Valentin Vacherot of Monaco as the champion after he defeated his first cousin, Arthur Rinderknech of France, with a comeback victory of 4–6, 6–3, 6–3.
The match itself was the culmination of an incredible breakthrough for both players, who also happened to be former college teammates at Texas A&M. The singles final became a historic event for several reasons:
- Family First: Vacherot and Rinderknech, being first cousins, became the first pair of cousins to ever contest a Masters 1000 final in the Open Era.
- A Final of Underdogs: For the first time in the tournament’s history, two unseeded players battled for the Shanghai title. It was also just the third all-unseeded Masters 1000 final (following Hamburg 1996 and Paris 2003) and only the second final in the format’s history contested by two players ranked outside the Top 50.
The Champion’s Unbelievable Records:
Vacherot’s victory secured a list of records that may never be broken:
- Lowest-Ranked Champion EVER: Ranked at World No. 204, Vacherot is now the lowest-ranked champion of any ATP Masters 1000 event since the format began in 1990, a milestone that surpassed the previous record held by Borna Ćorić.
- First Monégasque Champion: He became the first player representing Monaco to ever win an ATP Tour singles title in the Open Era.
- The Rare Qualifier: Vacherot is just the third qualifier to win a Masters 1000 title (after Roberto Carretero in 1996 and Albert Portas in 2001).
- Maiden Title on the Biggest Stage: The Shanghai Masters was Vacherot’s first-ever tour-level singles title, making him the fifth player in Masters 1000 history to claim his maiden title at this elite level.
The Final Showdown: Rinderknech started strong, taking the first set 6-4 after an impressive display of 12 winners and just two unforced errors. However, Vacherot, the master of resilience, rallied from a set down for the sixth time in the tournament. He changed the match dynamic in the second and third sets by hitting deep and dominating the tempo. In the deciding set, Vacherot’s serving was phenomenal, winning 92 percent of his first-serve points and making only one unforced error to clinch the biggest win of his life in two hours and 11 minutes.
Singles Prize Money and Ranking Rewards
The financial and ranking rewards for Vacherot’s fairytale were life-changing:
| Result | Player | Prize Money (USD) | Ranking Points |
| Winner | Valentin Vacherot | $1,124,380 | 1000 |
| Runner-up | Arthur Rinderknech | $597,890 | 600 |
Vacherot’s earnings were a massive jump from his career total prior to the event (approximately $594,077). The 1000 points saw him skyrocket up the PIF ATP Live Rankings by 164 spots to finish the week at a new career-high of World No. 40.
Doubles Final: German Duo Claims Title
The doubles final saw a more expected outcome, with the experienced No. 3 seeds, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz of Germany, defeating the unseeded duo of André Göransson (Sweden) and Alex Michelsen (USA) in straight sets, 6–4, 6–4.
The German pairing secured their maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown as an all-German team, snapping a 33-year wait for the achievement. Krawietz and Pütz clinched the victory in 83 minutes, converting three of their eight break points. They now sit comfortably in the race to qualify for the year-end Nitto ATP Finals, where they are already the defending champions.
| Result | Team | Prize Money (USD) | Ranking Points |
| Winners | K. Krawietz / T. Pütz | $457,150 (Split) | 1000 |
| Runners-up | A. Göransson / A. Michelsen | $242,020 (Split) | 600 |
The win also had a consequence for the top of the doubles rankings: defending champions Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektić did not manage to defend their title (Koolhof retired in 2024 and Mektić lost in the quarterfinals with partner Austin Krajicek). However, Lloyd Glasspool retained the ATP No. 1 doubles ranking after Marcelo Arévalo and Mate Pavić lost in the semifinals.
Other Historic Milestones
The 2025 tournament was marked by several other milestones:
- Djokovic’s Longevity: Despite losing to Vacherot, Novak Djokovic reached a record-breaking 80th ATP Masters 1000 semifinal at 38 years and 140 days old, extending his record as the oldest ATP 1000 semifinalist since the Masters format began in 1990.
- The Oldest Masters Match: The second-round match between Djokovic (38 years, 134 days) and Marin Čilić (37 years, 5 days) set a new record as the oldest Masters 1000 singles match in terms of combined ages (75 years and 139 days) since the format’s establishment in 1990.
- Sinner’s Early Exit: Defending champion Jannik Sinner was unfortunately forced to retire in the third round against Tallon Griekspoor due to severe cramping and physical struggles in the brutal, humid Shanghai conditions.
