Day eleven at the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters produced one of the most improbable finals in Masters 1000 history: a family affair between cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot.
Both French-born and largely unheralded at the start of the week, the pair stunned the tennis world by toppling Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic in back-to-back semifinals to set up a showdown for the title.
Vacherot, ranked outside the top 100, continued his giant-killing run by taking out a physically spent Djokovic in straight sets. The qualifier’s composure under pressure and knack for absorbing pace frustrated the five-time champion, who looked hampered by a lingering back issue and couldn’t summon his trademark intensity.
Later, Rinderknech recovered from a set down to beat Medvedev, sealing victory via a double fault after saving nine break points in the final two sets. It’s his fourth straight win over a Top 20 opponent, and it gives France a chance at a first Masters 1000 champion since Tsonga’s 2014 Toronto triumph.
A week ago, no one would’ve picked it. Now, one of them will walk away with a huge title and a $1,124,380 pay cheque.
Day Eleven Shanghai Masters 2025 Semi-Final Results
| Winner | Loser | Scoreline |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur Rinderknech | Daniil Medvedev (16) | 4-6 6-2 6-4 |
| Valentin Vacherot (Q) | Novak Djokovic (4) | 6-3 6-4 |
Valentin Vacherot (Q) def. Novak Djokovic (4) 6-3 6-4
Qualifier Valentin Vacherot produced another shock at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, defeating five-time champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in a 1-hour, 40-minute semifinal.
Vacherot is the lowest-ranked finalist in Masters 1000 history since 1990, and he was able to capitalise on Djokovic’s physical woes to book his spot in Monday’s showpiece.
Nole has had physical issues all week, and he received lower-back treatment twice in the opening set. I thought he played ok, but he didn’t have enough in the tank to grind his way past Vacherot.
The Monagasque has long limbs and scoops up a lot of balls when pushed out wide, so he made life very difficult for Djoker, who couldn’t really find a way to disrupt him, with the only real wobble coming in the final game, but he held firm when break point down to close it out with composure.
Match Stats
| Â | Novak Djokovic | Valentin Vacherot |
|---|---|---|
| Winners | 9 | 22 |
| Unforced Errors | 10 | 10 |
| Aces | 5 | 6 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 64 % (39/61) | 63% (36/57) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 59% (23/39) | 78% (28/36) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 48 % (11/23) | 57% (12/21) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (3/6) | 50% (1/2) |
| Service Games | 67 % (6/9) | 90% (9/10) |
| 1st Return Points Won | 22% (8/36) | 41% (16/39) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 43 % (9/21) | 52% (12/23) |
| Break Points Won | 50% (1/2) | 50% (3/6) |
| Return Games | 10 % (1/10) | 33% (3/9) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (4/8) | 50% (4/8) |
| Service Points | 56% (34/61) | 70% (40/57) |
| Return Points | 30% (17/57) | 44% (27/61) |
| Net Points | 42 % (5/12) | 76% (13/17) |
| Total Points | 43 % (51/118) | 57% (67/118) |
| Match Points Saved | 1 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 7 |
| Total Games | 37 % (7/19) | 63% (12/19) |
| Max Games In A Row | 1 | 3 |
Highlights
Arthur Rinderknech def. Daniil Medvedev (16) 4-6 6-2 6-4
Arthur Rinderknech delivered the second upset of the day, defeating 16th seed and 2019 champion Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in a 2-hour, 15-minute clash.
The 30-year-old Frenchman, riding a wave of four consecutive Top 20 wins (Alexander Zverev, Jiri Lehecka, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and now Medvedev), rallied from a set down with aggressive baseline play and clutch serving, capitalising on Medvedev’s double fault on match point.
In sets two and three, Rinderknech saved all nine break points he faced, and while it was close (97 points won vs 94 points won), he played the bigger points better to set up a final showdown with his cousin.
When you think of all the top French guys we’ve seen over the years, like Monfils and Gasquet, it’s crazy to think Rinderknech could be the first M1000 winner since Tsonga won Toronto in 2014 and only the 2nd French player ever to win a Masters 1000. He’s also the new French number one, overtaking Fils in the rankings. Tennis huh 🤪
Match Stats
| Â | Daniil Medvedev | Arthur Rinderknech |
|---|---|---|
| Winners | 12 | 24 |
| Unforced Errors | 5 | 10 |
| Aces | 11 | 12 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 6 |
| 1st Serve % | 72 % (57/79) | 68% (75/111) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 72 % (41/57) | 68% (51/75) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 48 % (12/25) | 50% (18/36) |
| Break Points Saved | 67 % (4/6) | 91% (10/11) |
| Service Games | 85% (11/13) | 93% (13/14) |
| 1st Return Points Won | 32% (24/75) | 28% (16/57) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 50% (18/36) | 52% (13/25) |
| Break Points Won | 9% (1/11) | 33% (2/6) |
| Return Games | 7% (1/14) | 15% (2/13) |
| Pressure Points | 29% (5/17) | 71% (12/17) |
| Service Points | 66% (52/79) | 62% (69/111) |
| Return Points | 38% (42/111) | 34% (27/79) |
| Net Points | 122% (11/9) | 74% (14/19) |
| Total Points | 49% (94/190) | 51% (96/190) |
| Match Points Saved | 1 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 7 |
| Total Games | 44% (12/27) | 56% (15/27) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 3 |
Highlights
Shanghai Masters 2025 Day 13 Final
- Arthur Rinderknech vs Valentin Vacherot (Q)
