No. 204 Vacherot Stuns Djokovic for Maiden ATP Final – Tennis Now
By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 11, 2025
Photo credit: Rolex Shanghai Masters Facebook
Pounding his palm over his heart like a defibrillator, qualifier Valentin Vacherot pulled off the most pulsating win of his life.
World No. 204 Vacherot shocked Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 surging into his maiden ATP final at the Rolex Shanghai Masters today.
This is more that a stunning upset, it’s a massive milestone. Vacherot went from being an alternate in qualifying to making history as the lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 history and the first man from Monaco to reach an ATP final.
Vacherot summed up this Cinderella run with a single word “crazy.”
“To beat me, I’m not realizing, so I cannot put any words on it,” Vacherot said afterward. “Like this is just crazy.
“Crazy is a good word. But first of all just to be on the other side of the court was already unbelievable experience. I think I’ve got so much to learn from this match from him and even from myself. I’ve got a lot to keep. It was an hour and 40 of pure joy.”
“Just to be on the other side of the court was an unbelievable experience” 🔊
A moment Valentin Vacherot won’t be forgetting in a hurry 😍#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/sI6FQgquyg
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 11, 2025
One of the most astounding runs of this ATP season will continue as Vacherot aims to keep this joy ride rolling in tomorrow’s final.
The 26-year-old qualifier will face either his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, or 2019 Shanghai champion Daniil Medvedev, in the final.
