Overview

• Valentin Vacherot defeated Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 after the Serbian required medical timeouts for hip and back issues, with Djokovic praising him at the net.
• Ranked No. 204 and entering as an alternate in qualifying, Vacherot is the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 finalist on record and is projected to climb to about No. 58.
• His path to the final included wins over Alexander Bublik, Tomas Machac, Tallon Griekspoor and Holger Rune before the semifinal upset of Djokovic.
• Arthur Rinderknech beat Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to set up the Shanghai title match against his first cousin, the first Masters 1000 final between relatives of that relation.
• Tournament conditions drew scrutiny as players struggled with heat and humidity, with reports of Djokovic vomiting and declining to detail his status, leaving his late-season plans uncertain.