Valentin Vacherot Makes History At Shanghai Masters

 

Valentin Vacherot, ranked 204th, won the Shanghai Masters in a surprising run throughout the rounds, which saw Novak Djokovic eliminated in the semi-finals. 

The Monagasque, 40, won the title, defeating Arthur Rinderknech in a comeback in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday. The victory made him the first unseeded and lowest-ranked player to win the Shanghai Masters 1000 title. 

Earlier, he defeated the fourth-seeded player, Novak Djokovic, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, denying the former champion his fifth title at the tournament. Djokovic has not won a Masters 1000 title since 2023 and was bidding for his 102nd ATP Men's major singles title. 

"I think I'm going to start realizing in the next few days. Right now, I just want to enjoy the moment," said Vacherot. "Unfortunately, there was one winner. But our family won, and the sport of tennis won as well."

Vacherot had never won a Masters 1000 title in his career and needed to rally from two points away from defeat against Liam Draxi to win the second round of the qualifiers. to win his opening round. 

He dropped the opening set in the first round of the qualifier before outclassing Nishesh Basavareddy in three sets, 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-2. In the quarterfinal, he fought back to outlast Holger Rune to set up a showdown against Djokovic.