Valentin Vacherot, ranked world No. 204, defeated Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the Shanghai Masters semifinal after entering the tournament as a qualifying alternate. His reaction captured the emotion of a career-defining moment.
From alternate to finalist
Valentin Vacherot arrived in Shanghai with modest expectations. As an alternate in qualifying, the 26-year-old Monegasque had no guarantee of even making the main draw. Yet within days, he had defeated top-seeded Holger Rune in the quarterfinals and stunned Novak Djokovic in the semis to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final.
His win over Djokovic was not just unexpected—it was historic. Vacherot became the lowest-ranked player ever to reach a Masters 1000 final, and he did so by outplaying a 24-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets.
A surreal moment on court
Moments after the match, Vacherot struggled to process what he had achieved. “Is this real? I don’t know,” he said. “To have Novak on the other side of the court was, first of all, an unbelievable experience for me.” His words reflected the disbelief and joy of a player who had never faced a member of the sport’s legendary Big Three before.
Vacherot had previously expressed regret at missing the chance to play Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, whose careers ended before he reached the top tiers of the tour. Facing Djokovic in Shanghai was a personal milestone.
Mental strength under pressure
Despite being broken in the opening game, Vacherot quickly recovered and maintained composure throughout the match. Djokovic, who had been battling physical issues all week, received medical treatment during the first set but continued to play.
Vacherot stayed focused, refusing to let the occasion overwhelm him. “Every time I had little thoughts I was just thinking about the next return or next serve I was going to hit,” he said in his post-match interview.
Monaco celebrates its rising star
Back home, Vacherot’s success has sparked excitement in Monaco, a country with limited tennis representation. His rise has inspired young players and brought visibility to a small federation that rarely sees singles players in the spotlight.
“What’s in my heart, the most important, is the joy that I bring back home,” Vacherot said earlier in the week.
Novak Djokovic in 2025
Currently ranked no.5, the Serbian played his last match on the 11th of October when he was defeated by world no.204 Valentin Vacherot 6-3 6-4
in the semifinal in Shanghai (draw).This season Novak has managed to achieve a compiled 35-11 win-loss record. The Serbian conquered 1 title in Geneva. The Serbian was the finalist in Miami.
ATP Shanghai - Valentin Vacherot's projected path
Vacherot in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2025
Now the world no.204, Valentin has managed to achieve a composed 41-22 record in 2025. Vacherot is now having a run in Shanghai where he conquered the world no.113 Nishesh Basavareddy 6-7(7) 6-4 6-2, the world no.119 Liam Draxl 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4, the world no.82 Laslo Djere 6-3 6-4, the world no.17 Alexander Bublik 3-6 6-3 6-4, the world no.23 Tomas Machac 6-0 3-1 ret., the world no.31 Tallon Griekspoor 4-6 7-6(1) 6-4, the world no.11 Holger Rune 2-6 7-6(4) 6-4 and the world no.5 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4.
Valentin Vacherot will compete against the world no.54 Arthur Rinderknech in the final. Their actual record is 1-0 for Rinderknech.
Valentin reached the final in the Francavilla Challenger.
Novak Djokovic and Valentin Vacherot squared off only 1 time. Their head to head is 1-0 for Vacherot.