Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025 Finals Preview, Order of Play, and Time
The 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event held at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, is set for an electrifying conclusion on Sunday, October 12. The tournament, which boasts a total prize money of US $9,193,538 and offers 1000 ranking points to the singles champion, has delivered a final pairing for the history books: a singles championship between two cousins.
The Finals Sunday Order of Play features both the Doubles and Singles Championships, with the latter promising an emotional, high-stakes family affair.
Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025 Finals Order of Play
| Time (Local – UTC+8) | Event | Match |
| 2:00 PM | Doubles Final | Andre GORANSSON (SWE) / Alex MICHELSEN (USA) vs. Kevin KRAWIETZ (GER) / Tim PUETZ (GER) [3] |
| Not Before 4:30 PM | Singles Final | Arthur RINDERKNECH (FRA) vs. Valentin VACHEROT (MON) [Q] |
The event is an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, running from October 1 to October 12, 2025, on hard courts.
Doubles Final Preview: Unseeded Surge vs. Championship Experience
The day begins with the Doubles Final at 2:00 PM, where the unseeded duo of Andre Goransson (SWE) and Alex Michelsen (USA) will face the No. 3 seeds, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany.
- Goransson & Michelsen (Unseeded): This first-time pairing has had a sensational run, highlighted by a stunning upset of the top-seeded team of Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in the semifinals. For both players, this is their first-ever ATP Masters 1000 final. Michelsen, in particular, is an American rising talent, and Goransson is the first Swede to reach the Shanghai doubles final since the tournament’s inception in 2009.
- Krawietz & Puetz (3): The German duo, ranked as the No. 3 seeds, are the established, experienced team in this final. Tim Puetz is a former World No. 6 and mixed doubles champion at the French Open, while Krawietz is a multiple-time Grand Slam doubles champion. They are the favorites based on their established partnership and pedigree, but will face a hot, unpredictable opponent. The winning doubles team will split $457,150 in prize money.
The Singles Final: A Family Affair for the Ages
The singles final, scheduled for Not Before 4:30 PM, is the ultimate story of the 2025 tennis season, featuring a match between cousins: Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) and qualifier Valentin Vacherot (MON). This unlikely pairing emerged after both men pulled off spectacular upsets in the semifinals:
- Valentin Vacherot stunned four-time Shanghai champion and No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
- Arthur Rinderknech battled past 2019 champion and No. 16 seed Daniil Medvedev in a three-set thriller.
The winner of this match will secure $1,124,380 and 1000 ATP Ranking points, while the runner-up will earn $597,890 and 600 points.
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) vs. Valentin Vacherot (MON) Match Preview
This final is a clash of two players who are not only cousins but also former college teammates at Texas A&M University. Their respective runs to the final have been described as “fit for a Hollywood script”. Rinderknech famously signed a camera lens earlier in the tournament saying “I follow you, Val”.
- Head-to-Head (H2H): There is no recorded ATP Tour head-to-head between Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot. This Masters 1000 final will be their first professional encounter on the main tour, adding an extra layer of tension to their family reunion.
- Arthur Rinderknech (Unseeded): The unseeded Frenchman, ranked No. 54 before the tournament, has defeated three seeded players, including No. 3 Alexander Zverev, en route to his maiden Masters 1000 final. Rinderknech is a powerful server known for his aggressive all-court game.
- Valentin Vacherot (Qualifier): Vacherot, who entered the qualifying draw as an alternate, began the tournament ranked No. 204. By reaching the final, he has become the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 finalist in history. His performance against Djokovic—a straight-sets victory over a physically hobbled 24-time Grand Slam champion—was the biggest win of his career. Vacherot is guaranteed to leap into the World’s Top 60 regardless of the outcome.
The Stakes: The final is more than just a trophy; it’s a battle for a massive career-defining moment. Vacherot, whose brother Mike is also his coach at the tournament, will rely on his fearless mindset that dismantled the former champions. Rinderknech, meanwhile, will lean on his sheer power and experience from defeating three Top-20 players. The prospect of an ATP Masters 1000 champion being either a qualifier-alternate or an unseeded Frenchman makes this one of the most unpredictable and heartwarming finals in recent memory.
