World No 204 Valentin Vacherot is taking on his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final of the Shanghai Masters, in what has turned into one of the stories of the season.
Vacherot missed half of the season through injury and turned up in Shanghai as an alternate, not knowing if he would even be able to enter qualifying. Yet the 26-year-old Monegasque has produced a stunning run, knocking out a string of big names including and to reach the final – where his cousin awaits.
Rinderknech is another surprise name in the showpiece, having come through a gruelling three-set battle with Daniil Medvedev in his semi-final. The 30-year-old Frenchman was embraced after his victory by Vacherot – the pair have been cheering each other on from the stands through the rounds and now stand in each other’s way as they compete for the biggest prize of their careers.
Follow all the action from the final of the Shanghai Masters below
Shanghai Masters final
- World No 204 Valentin Vacherot takes on his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in surprise final | live on Sky Sports Tennis
- Vacherot knocked out Novak Djokovic in semi-finals before Rinderknech beat Daniil Medvedev
- Both players are playing for their first ATP 1000 title
Rinderknech: ‘No one person in our family dreamt about it’
08:33 , Lawrence Ostlere”I can’t even say it’s a dream because I don’t think even one person in our family dreamt about it,” Rinderknech said.
“We started believing it in the quarters, maybe. Now we are here, we fought through so many matches and somehow we are both guys standing at the end.”
Rinderknech sees off Medvedev to set up family final
08:22 , Lawrence OstlereRinderknech was next on court against Daniil Medvedev. Vacherot signed a camera with “allez Arthur” as he departed, before the French 30-year-old triumphed over his Russian opponent 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
In pictures: Vacherot beats injured Djokovic to reach final
08:11 , Lawrence Ostlere
Djokovic: ‘The better player won’
07:57 , Lawrence OstlereThe 38-year-old Djokovic was slowed throughout the match by a sore hip. He took a medical timeout after falling behind 4-3 in the opening set. He won only one point in the next two games.
But the four-time tournament champion did not make an excuse of his physical struggles.
“It’s all about him,” Djokovic said. “I wish him all the best in the final, and the better player won today.
“Going from qualifications, it’s an amazing story,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion added. “I told him at the net that he’s had an amazing tournament, but more so his attitude is very good, and his game was amazing as well.”
Vacherot: ‘Is this real?’
07:44 , Lawrence OstlereVacherot, of Monaco, was an alternate in qualifying but is having a career week, which included a quarterfinal win over Holger Rune.
“Is this real? I don’t know,” the 26-year-old Vacherot said moments after defeating Djokovic. “To have Novak on the other side of the court was, first of all, an unbelievable experience for me.”
Vacherot v Rinderknech – Shanghai Masters final
07:35 , Lawrence OstlereTwo cousins will meet in the final of the Shanghai Masters after qualifier Valentin Vacherot stunned a hobbled Novak Djokovic and relative Arthur Rinderknech fought back to beat Daniil Medvedev on Saturday.
The 204th-ranked Vacherot earned the biggest win of his career by downing Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 and becoming the lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 history, the ATP said.
While Djokovic was aiming to add to his 100 career titles, the 26-year-old Vacherot will go for number one – against his cousin and fellow Texas A&M alum.
A couple of hours after beating Djokovic, Vacherot walked back onto the court and hugged Rinderknech to help celebrate his cousin’s 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 comeback win over Medvedev and relish the rare moment. Sunday’s final will be the first time the cousins have played each other on the ATP circuit.
Vacherot v Rinderknech – Shanghai Masters final
Saturday 11 October 2025 20:13 , Lawrence OstlereHello and welcome along to live updates of an extraordinary Shanghai Masters final between cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech – that’s not something we thought we’d be writing at the start of the week, but here we are.