Goransson and Michelsen storm into Shanghai doubles final

In the humid glow of Qizhong Forest Sports City, the Shanghai Masters doubles semifinal crackled with intensity as unseeded Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen faced top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic. The one-hour, 41-minute affair produced no breaks of serve, with the newcomers converting zero of seven opportunities, including none from five in the opening set. Yet through tiebreak mastery and unyielding holds, they secured a 7-6(2), 2-6, 10-7 victory, propelling this first-time duo into the final on a wave of momentum.

Impromptu partnership fuels resilience

The roots of this alliance trace to a spontaneous text exchange days before Michelsen’s Laver Cup duties, a decision that cut through the fatigue of a demanding 2025 season. Goransson, entering with a 3-4 record across seven prior finals, drew on recent triumphs: a 500-level title in Munich this April alongside Sem Verbeek, another in Newport last year with the same partner, and one in Pune back in 2020 paired with Christopher Rungkat. Michelsen, the 21-year-old Californian, carried the weight of two final losses this year—in Stuttgart in June with Rajeev Ram and last year’s Cincinnati Masters 1000 alongside Mackenzie McDonald—his drive amplified by the chance to break through.

This shared context of near-misses sharpened their focus on the medium-fast hard courts, where deep returns and slice approaches disrupted the favorites’ rhythm. Despite Goransson yielding serve in the second set’s fourth and eighth games, the pair’s mental reset preserved their edge, turning potential collapse into composure.

Tiebreak tension yields breakthrough

The match tiebreak encapsulated their tactical evolution, starting with a 3-0 surge built on crosscourt pressure and inside-out forehands that pinned Arevalo deep. Pavic and his partner clawed back to 3-3, but a string of holds kept the underdogs in command until Arevalo’s double fault at 7-8 opened the door. His subsequent forehand error on match point sealed the upset, a release of tension that echoed through the evening crowd as the light faded over the court.

Goransson’s experience at net steadied volleys during the decider, while Michelsen’s flat backhands exploited the surface’s pace for down-the-line winners. This sequence not only neutralized the top seeds’ power but highlighted the duo’s growing synergy, forged without prior matches yet tested in the heat of competition.

Legacy on the line against next foes

Goransson now stands as the first Swede in the Shanghai Masters doubles final since its 2009 start, aiming to join Robert Lindstedt as the latest countryman to claim an ATP Masters 1000 doubles crown—Lindstedt’s last came in 2012 Cincinnati with Horia Tecau. For Michelsen, this marks the first American finals appearance here since John Isner and Jack Sock‘s 2016 victory, a shot to end his 0-2 skid in ATP Tour finals and etch his name in the event’s history.

Ahead lies a test against No. 3 seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, or alternates Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard, following the Germans’ Saturday semifinal versus the Argentine-French pair. The matchup will demand adjustments to baseline depth and serve variety, with the victors’ poise carrying into a Sunday where surface grip and net instincts could define their breakthrough. As the pair savored the win, the court’s tempo shifted from strain to promise, their improbable run reframing pressure as propulsion.