Valentin Vacherot shines at the Shanghai Masters.
Holding the 204th ranking globally, Vacherot arrived in Shanghai as an alternate for the qualifiers, uncertain about joining the competition.
Securing a last-minute qualifying slot, Vacherot triumphed in his two matches to move into the main draw.
In the main event, he achieved victories over Laslo Djere, Alexander Bublik, Tomas Machac, Tallon Griekspoor, and Holger Rune, paving the way to a semifinal face-off with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
Maintaining his composure, Vacherot outperformed Djokovic with a score of 6-3, 6-4, marking the most significant victory of his career.
Valentin Vacherot on ATP players’ confidence against Djokovic
In a guest appearance on ‘The Changeover Podcast’, Vacherot was queried about Djokovic’s diminishing presence in the locker room.
“Absolutely, I think players are starting to believe they can defeat him,” he responded.
“In my view, it’s more about fitness than skill or mentality. During our match, I executed shots I’d never made before, while he performed incredible saves. Everyone was on edge; it was unprecedented for me,” he added.
Djokovic’s struggles in 2025
This season, Djokovic’s schedule was limited to 12 tournaments, and he secured only one title at the Geneva Open, accruing 11 losses.
| Match | Opponent | Opponent’s rank | Score |
| 2025 Shanghai Masters – SF | Valentin Vacherot | 204 | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 US Open – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | 2 | 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 |
| 2025 Wimbledon – SF | Jannik Sinner | 1 | 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 French Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | 1 | 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2025 Madrid Open – 2R | Matteo Arnaldi | 44 | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters – 2R | Alejandro Tabilo | 32 | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 Miami Open – F | Jakub Mensik | 54 | 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2025 Indian Wells – 2R | Botic van de Zandschulp | 85 | 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 |
| 2025 Qatar Open – 1R | Matteo Berrettini | 35 | 7-6, 6-2 |
| 2025 Australian Open – SF | Alexander Zverev | 2 | 7-6 (RET) |
| 2025 Brisbane International – SF | Reilly Opelka | 293 | 7-6, 6-3 |
Djokovic has faced defeats against four lower-ranked players this year, a rarity for him compared to past seasons. As the upcoming year unfolds, it remains to be seen if he will continue this trend.
