World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot produced one of the biggest upsets of the tennis season on Saturday, stunning an ailing Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters. The 26-year-old qualifier from Monaco capitalized on his opponent's physical struggles to become the lowest-ranked player in history to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final.
Djokovic, who had been battling illness and fatigue throughout the tournament, was visibly hampered by a lower back and leg issue. The 24-time Grand Slam champion received multiple medical timeouts, including one where a physio attended to his back as he lay on the court. Despite breaking Vacherot in the opening game, Djokovic was broken back immediately and struggled with his movement for the remainder of the match.
Vacherot's run to the final has been extraordinary. He began the tournament as an alternate for the qualifying rounds and fought his way into the main draw, where he defeated a string of seeded players, including Holger Rune in the quarterfinals. His victory over Djokovic ensures he will break into the Top 100 for the first time in his career, climbing to a projected rank of No. 58.
After the biggest win of his career, Vacherot was in disbelief. "I’m trying to pinch myself, is this real," he said in his on-court interview. "To have Novak on the other side of the court was, first of all, an invaluable experience for me. I have a hundred feelings right now." Djokovic was gracious in defeat, congratulating Vacherot at the net: "You deserve it, you played unbelievable. Keep it going."
In a remarkable family storyline, Vacherot will face either Daniil Medvedev or his own cousin, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, in Sunday's final. Rinderknech himself has had a stellar week and will break into the top 30 as a result. The cousins have been supporting each other from the stands throughout their respective runs in Shanghai.