Vacherot Achieves Historic Feat, Reaches Shanghai Masters Final

SHANGHAI: Valentin Vacherot marked a significant milestone in his career by triumphing over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic with a score of 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday, securing his place in the Shanghai Masters final.

The 26-year-old exhibited poise and resolve throughout the contest, clinching the victory in a swift 1 hour and 42 minutes.

This accomplishment positions Vacherot as the lowest-ranked player to reach the final of an ATP Masters 1000 event since 1990.

Vacherot capitalized on 78 per cent of his first-serve points, converting 28 out of 36, ultimately leading to his monumental win against Djokovic, the World No.5.

Following the match, Vacherot reflected on the experience of competing against Djokovic, characterizing it as an exceptional moment.

“Facing Novak on the court was, first and foremost, an incredible experience for me,” he stated.

Previously, the Monaco native had ousted the 10th seed, Holger Rune, with a score of 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in the quarter-finals, making him the second-lowest-ranked player to advance to the semi-finals of an ATP Masters tournament.

Subsequently, he efficiently defeated an unstable Djokovic, thus earning his spot in the final.

Valentin Vacherot’s journey is particularly noteworthy, considering he was absent for half of the season due to an injury.

“I didn’t even qualify directly; I entered as an alternative, unsure if I would even participate in the qualifier. Recovering from six months of absence is challenging. One cannot simply return and immediately win tournaments. It requires resilience,” Vacherot commented.

During the initial set, both competitors displayed powerful groundstrokes, though Djokovic seemed to exhibit physical discomfort.

The Serbian athlete received treatment on his lower back on two occasions before eventually losing with a score of 3-6.

In the subsequent set, the four-time Shanghai Masters champion displayed renewed vigor, yet Vacherot maintained his composure from the baseline, granting Novak Djokovic minimal opportunities to gain an advantage.

At 4-4, the Monaco player executed a crucial break and proceeded to conclude the match.

Following his defeat, Djokovic commended his adversary, stating, “You deserve it; you performed exceptionally. Keep up the momentum.”

Following his triumph over Djokovic, Vacherot is now set to encounter either his cousin, the unseeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, or Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final scheduled for Sunday.