match report
Vaccello makes M1000 history by defeating ailing Djokovic in Shanghai SF
Qualifiers are the lowest-ranked finalists in the ATP Masters 1000
October 11, 2025
Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Valentin Vacherot becomes the lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 history.
Andy West
Valentin Vacherot made a stunning breakthrough at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Saturday, beating record four-time champion Novak Djokovic in Monaco qualifier to advance to the championship match.
The PIF ATP Ranking No. 204 beat Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 to become the lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 history (since 1990). Vaccello remained calm and composed throughout, deftly taking advantage of the physical struggles of Djokovic, who twice received treatment for his lower back from a physiotherapist in the opening set.
Never stop believing🤩
Ranked 204th in the world @val_vacherot Beat Djokovic to become the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 finalist in history.@SH_Rolex Masters | #rolexshanghaimasters pic.twitter.com/ha32DUf8Sc
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 11, 2025
Vaccello won 78% (28/36) of his points after his first serve to earn the biggest win of his career against world number five Djokovic. The 26-year-old arrived in Shanghai as a qualifying substitute and will compete for the trophy on Sunday against his cousins Arthur RInderknech or Daniil Medvedev.
Vaccello, who defeated Holger Rooney in the quarter-finals to secure a spot in the top 100 for the first time, has now climbed 146 places to 58th in the PIF ATP live rankings thanks to the Shanghai match. He is the sixth player this century to reach his first ATP Tour final at the Masters 1000 and the first since Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Monte Carlo in 2022.
Vaccello seemed unfazed by nerves in his first Lexus ATP head-to-head meeting with Djokovic, despite the Serb’s physical struggles at the net. He hit 23 winners to his opponent’s nine, and he didn’t blink when break point was broken in the final game to seal the win, receiving encouragement from Djokovic as the pair embraced at the net afterwards.
While Djokovic usually digs deep to force Vaccello when he’s out of shape, the former world No. 1 was unable to pull off another remarkable victory in this match as he clearly struggled in the hot and humid conditions. Djokovic received treatment for his lower back at 3-4 in the first set. He was immediately broken in the next game, while moving cautiously.
However, Vaccello’s work was far from done and Djokovic seemed to move more freely in the second set, with the Monegasque ensuring he took care of his game to seal victory. He hit rock solid groundstrokes in both wings and came up again in the ninth.
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