Vacherot Stuns Djokovic to Become Lowest-Ranked Masters 1000 Finalist
Shanghai, China – October 11, 2025 – The sporting world witnessed history—and arguably the upset of the year—at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena today, as qualifier Valentin Vacherot of Monaco defeated four-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters. In a seismic two-set victory, 6-3, 6-4, the World No. 204 ended the Serbian superstar’s run in 1 hour and 43 minutes, stamping Vacherot’s name into the record books as the lowest-ranked player ever to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final.
The match was a clinical display of power serving and strategic returning by the 26-year-old Vacherot, contrasting sharply with a visibly hampered Djokovic, who struggled physically in the humid Shanghai conditions. This victory is the crowning moment of an extraordinary week for Vacherot, who arrived in China as an alternate for the qualifying rounds, uncertain if he would even make the main draw, and now finds himself one match away from a Masters 1000 title.
The Statistical Dominance of the Challenger
Vacherot’s triumph was founded on an almost flawless serving performance, which the match statistics vividly underline. The Monegasque recorded a dominant Serve Rating of 289, far surpassing Djokovic’s 237. Crucially, Vacherot was near-impregnable on his first serve, winning a staggering 78% (28/36) of those points, compared to Djokovic’s 61%. Even more telling was the difference in pace: Vacherot’s average first serve velocity clocked in at 209 km/h, significantly higher than Djokovic’s 192 km/h, backing up his 6 total aces.
This consistent power allowed Vacherot to conserve energy and put immense pressure on Djokovic’s usually rock-solid return game. Djokovic, who is typically a wall on the return side, managed to win only 22% of Vacherot’s first serve return points and 43% of his second serve return points. The frustration was palpable across the net as Vacherot conceded only a single break point chance to the four-time champion throughout the entire match, which Djokovic converted (1/2), but it was nowhere near enough to counter the relentless attack.
Djokovic’s Uncharacteristic Struggles
For Novak Djokovic, the match quickly became an exercise in damage limitation. Having already fought hard against Zizou Bergs in the previous round while managing a foot issue, the physical toll of the hot and humid Shanghai conditions seemed to catch up with him. Djokovic, the third oldest player ever to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final, called for the physio twice on his lower back in the opening set.
This physical discomfort translated directly into the service box. Djokovic’s own service game, usually the cornerstone of his hard-court success, faltered. He won only 56% of his total service points (34/61) and was vulnerable on his second delivery, winning just 48% of those points.
Vacherot capitalized ruthlessly on these openings. In a masterclass of clutch returning, the World No. 204 created six break point opportunities and converted half of them (3/6), including a crucial break in the eighth game of the first set after Djokovic received treatment. When the dust settled after the 102-minute contest, Vacherot had won 57% of the total points (67/118), sealing his victory with a break in the ninth game of the second set to go up 5-4, before serving out for the biggest win of his career.
From Alternate to History Maker
The true magnitude of this result lies in the context of Valentin Vacherot’s journey. Ranked No. 204 in the world, Vacherot was on the Challenger Tour circuit just weeks ago. His previous career high ranking was No. 110, achieved nearly a year prior before an injury halted his ascent. Arriving in Shanghai, he was merely an alternate, yet proceeded to win eight straight matches—two in qualifying and six in the main draw—taking out four seeded opponents, including World No. 11 Holger Rune in a thrilling quarter-final.
Vacherot is the first player representing Monaco to ever reach an ATP Tour final and, as a result of his run, will soar over 140 spots to break into the ATP Top 100 for the first time, securing a new live ranking around No. 58. It is a story of resilience and belief, perfectly summarized by Vacherot’s emotional reaction after the final point, where he was reportedly still processing the unreality of the moment, stating: “Is this real? I don’t know. To have Novak on the other side of the court was, first of all, an unbelievable experience for me.”
For Djokovic, who turns 38 next year, the loss marks a difficult end to a challenging week in China, raising questions about his body’s ability to cope with the gruelling demands of the late-season Masters events, especially while chasing the coveted year-end No. 1 ranking. Despite the defeat, Djokovic displayed his characteristic sportsmanship, offering encouraging words to Vacherot at the net after the final point.
A Family Affair in the Final?
Vacherot’s remarkable run adds a captivating subplot to the Shanghai Masters final, where he awaits the winner of the second semi-final between his French cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, and Daniil Medvedev. The possibility of an all-cousin Masters 1000 final, featuring two former college teammates from Texas A&M, has sent the tennis world and their family WhatsApp group into overdrive.
Regardless of the final opponent, Valentin Vacherot has provided one of the most compelling narratives in recent tennis history. His dominant performance against one of the game’s greatest has forever changed the trajectory of his career and ensured the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters will be remembered not just for the upsets it delivered, but for the champion it is about to crown.
