Valentin Vacherot upsets Djokovic, eyes cousin in Shanghai final

Valentin Vacherot claimed the biggest victory of his career on Saturday by defeating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Shanghai Masters final, where he could potentially face his cousin.

The 26-year-old Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world and representing Monaco, entered the tournament as an alternate in the qualifying rounds but has delivered an exceptional performance this week. “Is this real? I don't know,” Vacherot said shortly after his win over the 24-time Grand Slam champion. “To have Novak on the other side of the court was, first of all, an unbelievable experience for me.”

Vacherot’s potential opponent in Sunday’s final could be his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, who is scheduled to play 16th-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the other semifinal. “I will do some recovery of course, but I will not miss it,” Vacherot said regarding his cousin's match.

Djokovic, 38, struggled throughout the match due to a sore hip and took a medical timeout after falling behind 4-3 in the opening set, failing to win more than one point in the next two games. Despite his physical difficulties, the four-time Shanghai champion did not attribute his loss to injury.

“It's all about him," Djokovic said. "I wish him all the best in the final, and the better player won today.” He added, “Going from qualifications, it's an amazing story. I told him on the net that he's had an amazing tournament, but more so his attitude is very good, and his game was amazing as well.”

Vacherot’s victory marks a significant milestone in his career, propelling him into the final of a prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time and highlighting a week of remarkable performances in Shanghai.