In a twist straight out of a sports movie 🎥, Monaco's Valentin Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world, pulled off the upset of the year by defeating an ailing Novak Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters semifinals! The 26-year-old qualifier won 6-3, 6-4, ending Djokovic's bid for a fifth Shanghai title and securing his own spot in tennis history 🌟.
Vacherot will now face his French cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in Sunday's final—marking the first ATP Masters 1000 final ever featuring family members. Rinderknech rallied from a set down to beat Russia's Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, setting up the ultimate #FamilyFeud on the court.
Djokovic, visibly struggling with illness 🤒, praised Vacherot's performance: "It's all about him. The better player won today." The 24-time Grand Slam champion received medical treatment multiple times during the match, even vomiting courtside in a rare moment of vulnerability.
Vacherot, still processing his career-defining win, told reporters: "I'm trying to pinch myself—is this real?" His Cinderella story has made him the lowest-ranked player to reach a Masters 1000 final—proving that in tennis, magic can happen when you least expect it 🏆.
