Overview
- Valentin Vacherot rallied past No. 11 Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 to become the first qualifier to reach the Rolex Shanghai Masters semifinals.
- The 26-year-old is the first player born in Monaco to make an ATP Tour semifinal and has surged from No. 204 to No. 92 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
- Vacherot’s run includes five comeback wins from a set down across qualifying and the main draw, and he will face four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic next.
- Arthur Rinderknech advanced to the last eight by defeating Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-5 after earlier wins over Alexander Zverev and Alex Michelsen.
- Rinderknech’s recent surge has him 6-3 against Top 20 opponents since June and up to No. 43 in the live rankings; the cousins are former Texas A&M teammates, with Vacherot coached by his half-brother Benjamin Balleret.