Monaco’s Vacherot and Rinderknech Set for Historic Shanghai Masters Final After Upset Wins

In a stunning turn of events at the Shanghai Masters today, unranked Valentin Vacherot of Monaco and his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, secured a place in the final after defeating former champions Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, respectively.

Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world, overcame a struggling Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, becoming the lowest-ranked player to ever reach an ATP Masters 1000 final. The match saw Djokovic taking medical timeouts in both sets, appearing hampered during rallies. “This is just crazy… Just to be on the other side of the court [from Djokovic] was an unbelievable experience,” Vacherot said after the match. This victory marks the first time a player from Monaco has reached an ATP Tour final in the open era.

Hours later, Rinderknech continued the family’s success, defeating Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Rinderknech rallied after dropping the first set, employing aggressive returns that Medvedev struggled to handle. “I was like, ‘You know what? Maybe I’m going to lose, but I’m going to fight like crazy,’” Rinderknech explained. The unexpected run by the cousins has shaken up the ATP rankings and could signal a shift in the competitive landscape of men’s tennis; you can find more information about the ATP Tour here.

Djokovic, a four-time Shanghai Masters winner, congratulated Vacherot, stating, “Going from qualifications, it’s an amazing story… his attitude is very good and his game was amazing as well.” The cousins will face each other in Sunday’s final, a match neither predicted. For more on the Shanghai Masters tournament, see the official tournament website.

Officials confirmed that the final between Vacherot and Rinderknech is scheduled for Sunday, and both players are expected to address the media following the match.