The title contenders and cousins, Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech, shocked four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic and former world number one Daniil Medvedev, respectively, setting up an unpredictable championship match at Qi Zhong Tennis Center.
Both battled back from a set down to break new ground in a sport where resilience, hard work, and talent make way for the unexpected to happen; now it’s their time to shine.
It’s not the final anyone could have expected; it’s the script they dared to write, an inspiring story for the sport’s history books.
When they meet on Sunday, it will mark the first time since 1991 that members of the same family will square off at the tour level in a final.
On paper, there’s only one winner; on court, both have already won.
The Best Week of Their Careers
Tennis-wise, Vacherot hit first. The player who landed in China as an alternate, making it through qualifying, took the world of tennis by storm.
En route to the title match, he shocked six seeded players Alexander Bublik, Tomas Machac, Tallon Griekspoor, Holger Rune, and Djokovic, booking a spot in his first tour-level final.
The lowest-ranked Masters 1000 finalist in history, currently at No. 204, has seen his career disrupted by a right shoulder injury that sidelined the unseeded player from tour competition when he was just 30 points away from the Top 100 last year at Roland-Garros.
Ever since, he’s been on a comeback road, competing at Challengers, knowing “…it wasn’t going to be easy this year to get back at the ranking,” he shared after his three-hour match win over 10th seed Rune.
On Saturday, he earned the biggest win of his career, edging 24-time major champion Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, hampered by injury.
“I want to congratulate Valentin for reaching his first Masters 1000 final,” commented the Serbian after his semifinal exit. “Going from qualifications, it’s an amazing story.”
Adding: “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.”
When leaving the court, the fourth seed received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Chasing a record-extending 61st ATP Masters 1000 final, his first this season since Miami, the Belgrade native showcased some of his best tennis while battling his opponents, the challenging weather conditions, and physical issues, building a solid campaign throughout the event.
However, on Saturday, visibly in pain, he pushed through, but his efforts fell short against the 26-year-old from Monaco, who wrapped up proceedings in one hour and 42 minutes.
For the fifth time in eight matches (including qualifying), Vacherot came back from a set down to emerge victorious, setting up a title clash with his cousin.
Meanwhile, World No. 54 Arthur Rinderknech rallied past resurgent Medvedev with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 29 minutes after the Moscow-born failed to fend off a second match point and double-faulted.
A memorable campaign saw the Frenchman upset the former 2019 champion, who, despite a difficult season, rose to the occasion in Asia, finding his way back to winning ways on merit.
And so did the French player, who overpowered five seeded players, including Alex Michelsen in the second round, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, Jiri Lehecka, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and 16th seed Medvedev in the semis.
In his on-court interview, he shared his thoughts about the singular upcoming encounter, outlining: “I can’t even say it’s a dream, because I don’t think even one person in our family dreamt about it. So it wasn’t a dream, it’s just a dream that came out of nowhere.”
“Now we are here. We fought so many matches. Somehow, we are both guys standing at the end. Just incredible,” he added.
At the age of 30, he has reached his second career final, his first at the Masters 1000 level, becoming the ninth French player to achieve such a feat.
Whoever wins on Sunday, the trophy will stay in the family.