Vacherot lives the dream with stunning Rune upset

Under the humid afternoon glare at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, Valentin Vacherot etched a career milestone, grinding out a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over 10th seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals. The Monegasque, who slipped into the draw as an alternate uncertain of even qualifying, absorbed an early onslaught before steadying his game on the medium-fast hard courts. His resilience propelled him to the semifinals, marking him as the second-lowest ranked player to reach this stage in Masters 1000 history since 1990, while guaranteeing a 112-spot climb to No. 92 in the live rankings come Monday.

Early struggles yield to tactical poise

Rune seized control in the first set with aggressive baseline fire, unleashing inside-out forehands crosscourt to stretch Vacherot wide and force errors on hurried returns. The Dane’s powerful 1–2 combinations—serve deep to the body followed by heavy topspin—exploited the grippy surface, pinning the underdog deep and dictating tempo from the outset. Yet Vacherot, drawing on a season of rebuilding after injuries, refused to fold, using underspin slices on his backhand to neutralize pace and extend rallies, gradually disrupting his opponent’s rhythm as the crowd’s murmurs built in the stadium.

In the second set, the shift came through Vacherot‘s growing composure; he targeted Rune‘s backhand with inside-in forehands, forcing the Dane into longer exchanges where precision edged out power. The tiebreak at 7-6(4) hinged on deep returns that jammed Rune’s swing, saving key points and flipping the psychological momentum amid the humid air and shifting light. This pivot exposed early cracks in the higher seed’s focus, setting the stage for the decider.

Remember the name

World No. 204 @val_vacherot defeats Rune to reach the @SH_Masters final four.#ShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/oTVxHiaNpM

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 9, 2025

Physical edge seals the decider

As the third set unfolded over two hours and 59 minutes, Rune’s physical toll became evident; the World No. 11 twice called for the trainer to massage his right upper leg, slowing his explosive movement on the baseline. Vacherot sensed the vulnerability without overreaching, maintaining crosscourt patterns to draw the Dane wide before striking down-the-line backhands that tested his mobility. The 26-year-old’s fitness, sharpened through five comebacks from a set down in his seven Shanghai matches—including two in qualifying—provided the crucial buffer, turning attrition into advantage.

Holding serve in the 10th game demanded steel; Vacherot saved two break points with a blend of defensive slices and bold net rushes, the crowd’s supportive roars amplifying the tension. He converted his second match point when Rune netted a forehand under pressure, clinching the biggest win of his career and silencing doubts about his big-stage mettle. Remember the name World No. 204 @val_vacherot defeats Rune to reach the @SH_Masters final four. #ShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/oTVxHiaNpM— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 9, 2025.

Semifinal horizon promises more tests

Vacherot’s odyssey now collides with the elite, as he prepares to face record four-time champion Novak Djokovic or Zizou Bergs in the last four, bidding for his first tour-level final. His tactical adjustments—deeper returns mixed with one–two punches—have fueled this run, but sustaining mental presence against top-tier experience will define the next chapter. With the Shanghai Masters atmosphere electric and his top-100 entry assured, this breakthrough feels like the launch of an unburdened ascent, where every point carries the weight of newfound belief.