Who is the tennis player outside the top 200 in the world who caused a shock by defeating Djokovic?
Ranked 204th worldwide, Valentin Vacherot from Monaco stunned the tennis world by defeating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the 2025 Shanghai Masters semifinal. Who is Valentin Vacherot?
Who exactly is Valentin Vacherot?
In 31°C heat with 62% humidity, the 26-year-old player overcame the 38-year-old Serbian veteran—who was struggling with vomiting, a leg injury, and exhaustion—to earn a place in the final against his cousin Arthur Rinderknech.
"I probably have to pinch myself to check if this is real," Vacherot emotionally said after the biggest victory of his career. "Playing against Novak was an invaluable experience. I’m filled with emotions."
Ranked 204th globally, Valentin Vacherot from Monaco shocked the tennis world by defeating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the 2025 Shanghai Masters semifinal.
Born in 1998, Vacherot began tennis at an early age and played college tennis for Texas A&M (USA). He turned professional in 2022, coached by his half-brother Benjamin Balleret—son of former players Bernard Balleret and Alexia Dechaume-Balleret. Tennis talent runs strongly in the family, as his cousin Arthur Rinderknech reached the fourth round of the US Open.
Vacherot first attracted attention by winning the ATP Challenger event in Nonthaburi, Thailand, in 2022, then became the first player from the Monaco Tennis Federation to compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam at Roland Garros 2023.
Against Djokovic, Vacherot’s resilience was clear. After losing his serve in the opening game, he immediately broke back.
When Djokovic needed medical treatment in the seventh game, Vacherot took advantage, secured another break, and closed the first set with two aces.
The second set showed Djokovic’s effort, but Vacherot stayed composed, finished the match, and stopped the veteran from winning his fifth title in Shanghai.
This extraordinary win not only put Vacherot on the world tennis map but also opened a new chapter in the career of the Monaco-born player—who wrote a fairy tale by rising from college tennis to triumph over a living legend.
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