Novak Djokovic – Foto: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com
The Shanghai Masters 1000 semifinals were confirmed this Friday (10), with matches scheduled for Saturday (11) in China. France’s Arthur Rinderknech will take on Russia’s Daniil Medvedev at 8 a.m. (Brasília time), while Serbia’s Novak Djokovic faces Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot at 5:30 a.m. Victories in the quarterfinals highlight upsets in the tournament, which awards 1,000 ATP ranking points and a $9.1 million prize pool.
The hard-court event, featuring 96 players in the main draw, reaches its final stages with notable absences like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Cousins Rinderknech and Vacherot represent the tournament’s unpredictability, while Medvedev and Djokovic aim for Sunday’s (12) final.
Quarterfinal matches, averaging 1h40 in duration, shaped the semifinals. Winners hold strong Masters 1000 records, but surprises shifted early bracket predictions.
还在战斗。 pic.twitter.com/nIY8FIz7ui
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) October 10, 2025
Rinderknech’s Journey to the Semifinals
Arthur Rinderknech, 30, ranked 54th in the ATP, advanced by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 2-0, with 6/3, 6/4 sets, in 1h28. The Frenchman, in his first Masters 1000 semifinal, ousted Alexander Zverev in the round of 16 and Jiri Lehecka earlier. His campaign includes 48% points won on serve and 38% break point conversion.
This marks Rinderknech’s second win over a top-10 player in 2025, boosting his hard-court form. He has 28 seasonal wins and eyes a top-40 ranking post-tournament.
Medvedev’s Steady Quarterfinal Performance
Daniil Medvedev defeated Alex de Minaur with a double 6/4 in 1h53. The Russian, ranked 18th and 2019 Shanghai champion, achieved 79% first-serve accuracy and one break per set. This is his 14th Masters 1000 hard-court semifinal, with nine wins in 13 prior appearances.
Medvedev has 43 wins this season and seeks a third 2025 title. His record against French players is strong, with 65% wins in 23 matches.
Djokovic Advances Despite Foot Injury
Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed, beat Zizou Bergs 6/3, 7/5 in 1h44. The Serb, a four-time Shanghai champion, managed left-foot discomfort, converting 42% of break points and landing 76% of first serves. This is his record 80th Masters 1000 semifinal.
Djokovic has 345 aces in 2025 and 100 career titles. He hasn’t won a title since Geneva in May and targets a fifth Shanghai crown.
Vacherot’s Historic Qualifier Run
Valentin Vacherot, 26, ranked 204th, ousted Holger Rune 2/6, 7/6(4), 6/4 in nearly three hours. The Monegasque, debuting in a Masters 1000 outside Monaco, defeated four seeds, including Alexander Bublik and Tomas Machac. He’s the second-lowest-ranked semifinalist since 1990.
Vacherot, with seven ITF and four Challenger titles, secured a top-100 spot. His 2025 points-won rate rose to 48%.
- Vacherot’s run: wins over qualifiers, Bublik (23rd), Machac (33rd), and Rune (10th).
- First Monegasque semifinalist in a Masters 1000.
- 12 wins in 21 main-tour matches this season.
Family Ties in the Semifinals
Rinderknech and Vacherot’s presence raises the possibility of a historic family final in a Masters 1000. The cousins, revealed after Rinderknech’s win over Lehecka on Wednesday (8), represent France and Monaco. Vacherot watched his cousin from the stands on Thursday.
Both played college tennis at Texas A&M before turning pro. Rinderknech, 30, is more experienced; Vacherot, 26, has a 12-9 main-tour record.
A family final hinges on their wins: Rinderknech against Medvedev, Vacherot versus Djokovic. Fans, including family, are split on social media.
Djokovic’s Shanghai Legacy
Djokovic leads with four Shanghai titles since 2009. His win rate there is 85%, with 52 victories in 61 matches. In local semifinals, he’s won eight of nine.
The Serb seeks his 41st Masters 1000 title. In 2025, he reached semifinals in all Grand Slams but won only Geneva.
Semifinal Expectations
The matchups promise contrasts: Medvedev, with 50 top-10 wins, faces rising Rinderknech. Djokovic, managing injury, meets Vacherot, who won 70% of 2025 tie-breaks.
The final, on Sunday, will impact ATP Finals qualification. Matches air live on ESPN and Star+ in Brazil.
