Historic Finalists Emerge at Rolex Shanghai Masters
The 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters has culminated in a historic final, as cousins Valentin Vacherot of Monaco and Arthur Rinderknech of France are set to compete for the singles title. This marks the first time in an ATP Masters 1000 event that two cousins will face each other in the championship match, and the first time family members have met in a professional men's final since 1991. The final is scheduled for Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China.
Path to the Final: Major Upsets Pave the Way
Both Vacherot and Rinderknech navigated challenging draws, overcoming top seeds in their semifinal encounters. Valentin Vacherot, a qualifier ranked World No. 204, delivered a stunning performance to defeat tennis icon Novak Djokovic with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals on Saturday, October 11. Djokovic was reportedly 'injury hampered' during the match. In the other semifinal, Arthur Rinderknech, ranked World No. 54, secured his spot in the final by upsetting former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev.
Tournament Details and Venue
The Rolex Shanghai Masters is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players, held in Shanghai, China, during the month of October. It is played on outdoor hard courts at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, located in the Minhang District. As an ATP Masters 1000 event, it is one of the nine such tournaments on the ATP Tour and the only one not played in Europe or North America. The venue, originally built in 2004 and 2005, features a 15,000-seat main stadium with a retractable roof, making it the largest tennis venue in Asia.
Significance of the All-Cousin Clash
The upcoming final between Vacherot and Rinderknech is generating significant buzz due to its unique family dynamic. Their journey to the final, marked by surprising victories over two of the sport's most dominant figures, adds an extraordinary chapter to the tournament's history. Vacherot's run as a qualifier, culminating in a win over Djokovic, highlights a remarkable underdog story, while Rinderknech's triumph over Medvedev underscores his strong performance throughout the event.
7 Comments
Comandante
History made! This is what tennis is all about.
Mariposa
It's a fantastic historical moment for the sport to have cousins in a final, however, it also highlights how unpredictable and sometimes inconsistent the tour can be outside of the Grand Slams.
Muchacha
Underdogs shining! Absolutely fantastic tournament.
Mariposa
The underdog stories are inspiring and show the depth of talent, but the injury to Djokovic does raise questions about the legitimacy of Vacherot's path to the final.
Bella Ciao
Couldn't ask for a better final. Family rivalry!
dedus mopedus
A qualifier in the final? Just shows how weak the draw was.
ytkonos
Not a real Masters final without top players competing.