Valentin Vacherot produced a sensational performance at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, shocking Holger Rune in a dramatic quarter-final clash. Ranked World No. 204, the Monegasque qualifier battled past the 10th seed 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 to enter the semi-finals of the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The victory also guarantees Vacherot his Top 100 debut in the next rankings update.
Vacherot struggled to find rhythm early in the match but showed remarkable resilience in the second set, forcing a tiebreak. In the decider, he capitalized on Rune’s physical discomfort to seal the biggest win of his career after two hours and 59 minutes. With this result, the 26-year-old climbs 112 places to No. 92 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, becoming the second lowest-ranked Masters 1000 semi-finalist since 1990.
“I didn’t come as a qualifier, I came as an alternate. I wasn’t even sure I was going to play qualifying,” said Vacherot. “This is just unbelievable. The last win meant already so much to me. This one means even more.
“It was tough not to think about it on match point, also breaking the Top 100. I know this is just a step, but I tried not to look at the rankings for this whole tournament. I had read that if I won, I would break the Top 100, but this is just unbelievable for me. I cannot wait for [the semi-final]. I’m just so happy and living the dream.”
Rune’s Struggles and Vacherot’s Composure
Rune, ranked World No. 11, needed medical attention twice in the final set for a right leg issue. Despite pushing through and striking aggressively, the Dane could not break Vacherot’s composure at crucial moments. The underdog held firm, fending off two break points in the tenth game and converting his second match point to close out the contest.
Throughout the Shanghai event, Vacherot has shown an ability to rally from behind, overturning first-set deficits in five of his seven matches (including qualifying). His next test will be against Novak Djokovic or Zizou Bergs in what will be the biggest match of his career.
“First set, physically I was really shocked. That was a step above [what I am used to],” said Vacherot. “I already thought Tallon [Griekspoor, in the fourth round], tennis-wise was playing really good. I was already shocked about that. Sascha Bublik, we know how he plays. You could expect any shot at any second. That’s why he’s so good.
“But today I was shocked by how [Rune] was defending. Points that I would win against 90 per cent of the guys, for him it was just a random ball. I felt like I was coming in and would have an easy volley. So the first set was pretty physical. My lungs were screaming a little bit, but that helped me a lot for the second set, because I just went off to change and it helped me to play a little bit more free.”
A Historic Run for the Monegasque Star
The quarter-final triumph also marks the first time a Monegasque player has reached a Masters 1000 semi-final. According to Infosys ATP Stats, Vacherot converted two of four break points against Rune. He is also the second qualifier in 2025 to make the semis of a Masters 1000, following Terence Atmane’s Cincinnati run.
Vacherot’s fearless tennis and mental toughness have turned him into one of the standout stories of the Shanghai Masters 2025. A victory in the semi-finals would make his fairytale run even more extraordinary.
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