Monaco’s dark horse pulls off a massive upset, Djokovic’s quest for a fifth Shanghai Masters title ends in the semifinals

From being widely expected to defeat Monaco’s surprise contender Vacherot without difficulty, to unexpectedly being eliminated by this world No. 204 qualifier, Djokovic’s exit shocked the public!

Although Djokovic’s grueling three-set win over Munar was nerve-wracking, and there were concerns he might withdraw before facing Belgium’s Van Herck, the 38-year-old legend’s straight-set victory over the young Belgian to reach the Shanghai Masters semifinals instantly alleviated worries, making many believe Vacherot would struggle to stop Djokovic from reaching the final; coupled with the eliminations of top threats Deminal and Alcaraz, fans confidently said, “The old champion has this title locked,” eagerly awaiting the Serbian star to claim his fifth Shanghai Masters crown.

As a qualifier, when Vacherot defeated Rune in the quarterfinals, many thought his bleeding toe injury meant he had fought through pain to beat the Dane, essentially handing Djokovic an easy path. His skill level was already no match for the Serbian legend, and with an injury, it seemed nearly impossible for him to challenge the giant.

Before the match, Djokovic praised the 26-year-old Monaco youngster, describing him as “a powerful server with a solid playing style and a strong physique,” and expressed that “I was really looking forward to facing him.”

It was Djokovic’s own words that made everyone believe he was confident about beating Vacherot, fueling widespread support for his championship hopes.

Before this highly anticipated match began, discussions unanimously agreed that Djokovic would likely take control early, aiming to finish in straight sets and conserve energy for the final.

Initially, it was assumed that Vacherot, coming from the qualifiers and carrying an injury, would be physically drained compared to Djokovic, and that his first appearance at a Masters semifinal would make him nervous against a top player. However, this young Monaco player surprised everyone with his impressive performance.

From the first set, he played very aggressively and proactively. Even after losing his opening service game, Vacherot remained composed and steady, just as he had during his earlier matches. When he quickly broke back to level the score, many thought Djokovic would be frustrated by losing the lead and would soon teach Vacherot a lesson. Yet as the match progressed, it was Djokovic who ran into serious trouble.

After Vacherot broke Djokovic’s serve in the eighth game, he never gave the Serbian star another chance and decisively took the first set 6-3 with precision and power.

Seeing Vacherot play fiercely as if uninjured, while Djokovic showed visible fatigue during long rallies, many viewers already doubted Djokovic’s chances before the second set even began, saying, “At this state, it’s going to be very difficult for the old champion to win; his dream of a fifth title may end prematurely.”

Especially after Vacherot broke Djokovic’s serve again in the ninth game of the second set, many declared that the Serbian star’s fate was sealed.

Despite Djokovic forcing break points and saving match points during Vacherot’s serving game, he ultimately couldn’t reverse the momentum and lost the match 4-6 in the second set, shattering the hopes of his supporters and officially ending his bid for a fifth Shanghai Masters title.

After the match, some wondered how Djokovic, who had defeated tough opponents like Munar and Van Herck, could lose in straight sets to the relatively unknown Vacherot, which seemed unbelievable.

In reality, Djokovic’s shocking loss to this Monaco dark horse was not due to a decline in his ability, but mainly because injuries held him back at a critical moment.

For example, Djokovic called for a medical timeout after the seventh game of the first set; the combination of injury and the hot, humid conditions left him struggling both physically and mentally, slowing his movement considerably. Additionally, Vacherot’s strategy of prolonged rallies to wear down Djokovic, combined with his high success rate, laid the groundwork for this upset.

Even when Djokovic risked everything in Vacherot’s service game in the second set, trying to level the score, many noted that even if the match went to a deciding set, Djokovic’s fragile condition would make it very difficult for him to prevail. Physically inferior and unable to dominate in long rallies, plus inconsistent form, how could he overcome the in-form and steady Monaco dark horse?

After Djokovic’s exit, many expressed sadness, noting that they originally thought Vacherot’s win over Rune was an easy gift to Djokovic, but after the Serbian star battled fiercely to defeat strong opponents, it turned out Djokovic was the one who ended up handing over the win, making it a heartbreaking outcome.

While Djokovic’s loss is hard for his fans to accept, Vacherot’s victory not only made his name known but also set two remarkable records: first, becoming the first Monaco player to reach a tour final in the Open Era; second, becoming the lowest-ranked player ever to reach a Masters final since the format was introduced in 1990.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)