Looking for Tennis and Racket Sports International News?

The RacketSTAR Tennis News Blog and Article Feed gives you up to the minute news and information about the Players and Sports Updates.

Can Djokovic or Medvedev build on Shanghai's ATP No. 1 Club legacy?

Since its inception in 2009, the Rolex Shanghai Masters has stood as one of the most prestigious stops on the ATP Masters 1000 calendar.

Over the years, it has constantly attracted the game’s biggest names and produced some of its most memorable battles. Five of the 29 players to reach No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings have triumphed in Shanghai: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner.

Two from that illustrious quintet are in the midst of deep runs at this year's event: Medvedev, who will face Alex de Minaur Friday in the quarter-finals, and Djokovic, who will meet surprise package World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot in Saturday's semis.

As the 2025 tournament boils towards its conclusion, ATPTour.com celebrates the No. 1s who have lifted the trophy in Shanghai.

a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview'Novak Djokovic/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/andy-murray/mc10/overview'Andy Murray/a
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roger-federer/f324/overview'Roger Federer/a
Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  49 Hits
Tags:

Hot Shot of the Month: Vote for September's winner

There was no shortage of shotmaking magic on the ATP Tour during September, and ATPTour.com has selected four candidates for the latest fan-voted Hot Shot of the Month award.

Taylor Fritz dealt with a troublesome net cord in style en route to the Tokyo final, while Rohan Bopanna stunned his opponents with two ‘tweeners in one game at the ATP 500 event.

Over in Beijing, home hope Shang Juncheng pulled off a dazzling behind-the-back effort to cause havoc and Taro Daniel sent the Chengdu crowd into a frenzy by hitting a hotdog of his own during a thrilling all-court exchange with Tallon Griekspoor.

Watch the hot shots below, then head to the voting page to cast your vote for your favourite before 12 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CET) on 14 October.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  76 Hits
Tags:

Krawietz/Puetz win Shanghai, snap 33-year wait for German M1000-winning pair

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz etched their names onto an exclusive list in German tennis history on Sunday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

With their 6-4, 6-4 championship-match victory against Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen in China, Krawietz and Puetz became just the second all-German duo to win a doubles title in ATP Masters 1000 series history (since 1990). The players they have joined on that list? A pair of illustrious singles stars in former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Boris Becker and former World No. 2 Michael Stich, who won the 1992 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters doubles crown together.

German engineering at its finest ???

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz defeat Goransson/Michelsen 6-4 6-4 to capture their maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown as an all-German team.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/umnG6NsRxt

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 12, 2025

“Let's not put us in any way in the same category as these two,” said the 37-year-old Puetz after lifting his second Masters 1000 crown (he also won the Rolex Paris Masters in 2021 alongside New Zealander Michael Venus. “[My first Masters 1000 title] was very special. Actually, Michael Stich sent me a text message after the first one. I didn't know him at all, and it was very, very nice of him. He sent me a really nice message after I won in Paris.

“It's not nicer with Kevin, but it's definitely different winning it with a countryman… We're actually genuinely friends, also with our teams. We go see each other, even when we don't have tournaments. So it's very, very nice to share that. Obviously, victories are nice, but also to share in defeats. I think all in all we're just happy with this phase of our careers and our lives to be together in those moments.”

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  104 Hits
Tags:

Inside Rinderknech & Vacherot's journey from college tennis to the Shanghai final

In 2018 the Texas A&M University men’s tennis team suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships to Wake Forest University. Arthur Rinderknech played No. 2 singles for A&M while his cousin, Valentin Vacherot, competed at No. 4 singles. Their matches were side by side on that difficult day, which marked the end of Rinderknech’s accomplished college tennis career.

Head coach Steve Denton, the two-time Australian Open finalist, still remembers what Rinderknech said to him in the aftermath of that loss.

“When Arthur left to go out to try to go play [professionally], I remember him saying to me, ‘Steve, make sure that you take care of my cousin like you took care of me’," Denton told ATPTour.com. “I said, ‘Absolutely, I'll do that’.”

Denton has maintained his relationship with the cousins, who on Sunday will meet for ATP Masters 1000 glory in the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters. They each defeated a former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings — Rinderknech ousted Daniil Medvedev and Vacherot beat Novak Djokovic — in the semi-finals.

“This is a dream come true for these two guys,” Denton said. “They've taken the road maybe not traveled as much, obviously, and unless you're a freak like a [Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz, a lot of players have to go through all these things in order to get to where they are.”

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  79 Hits
Tags:

How much prize money will the Shanghai champion, Rinderknech or Vacherot, earn?

Surprise Rolex Shanghai Masters finalists Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot have said they already consider themselves winners at the ATP Masters 1000 event because the cousins have made the final together.

However, there is still plenty to play for in Shanghai, including prize money. The champion will leave China having earned US $1,124,380.

Entering the tournament, Vacherot had earned $594,077 for his career. The Monegasque player, who had only claimed one career ATP Tour match win entering Shanghai according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, has exceeded that total just by making the final. He is guaranteed to earn at least $597,890.

View the full prize-money breakdown and the PIF ATP Rankings points at stake at the Rolex Shanghai Masters below.

2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters Singles Prize Money

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  88 Hits
Tags:

What were the Shanghai tennis results?

It was a stunning semi-finals day at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where two former No. 1 players in the PIF ATP Rankings fell, while their conquerors set a fairytale finale.

View all the Saturday Shanghai results below:

Results - Saturday, 11 October 2025

Men's Singles - Semi-finals
[Q] Valentin Vacherot (MON) d [4] Novak Djokovic (SRB) 63 64
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) d [16] Daniil Medvedev 46 62 64

Men's Doubles - Semifinals
[3] Kevin Krawietz (GER)/Tim Puetz (GER) d [Alt] Guido Andreozzi (ARG)/Manuel Guinard (FRA) 63 76(8)

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  70 Hits
Tags:

When is the Shanghai tennis final?

The Rolex Shanghai Masters comes to a conclusion Sunday with the singles and doubles finals.

Cousins Arthur Rinderknech and qualifier Valentin Vacherot will meet in a fairytale championship clash. Third seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz face Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen in the doubles final.

View the full Sunday order of play below.

ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2025

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  80 Hits
Tags:

Cousins Rinderknech & Vacherot living 'undreamable dream': Who will win Shanghai final?

Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot are family, first and foremost. The cousins just happen to share a sport they have played together “thousands of times”, from when they were juniors to teammates in college at Texas A&M University, and plenty since then. But never did they imagine what they will do together on a tennis court Sunday.

One day after they each upset a former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings — Vacherot stunned 100-time tour-level titlist Novak Djokovic and Rinderknech rallied past Daniil Medvedev — they will meet for an ATP Masters 1000 title in the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

“[It is] the dream undreamable. Is that okay? It was undreamable,” Rinderknech said. “Even in the biggest dream we couldn't have dreamt about this, so it's a dream that couldn't even exist at the beginning.

“I don't even know where it comes from, how it happened. I guess we must have done some good things to the people around us to deserve to experience something like this, because it's incredible.”

Rinderknech and Vacherot have followed similar, but different paths to this point. The Frenchman, Rinderknech, is just more than three years older than his cousin, Vacherot of Monaco. But they spent two seasons together in college before later beginning their professional journeys.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  66 Hits
Tags:

Rinderknech upsets Medvedev to set final against cousin Vacherot, turning Shanghai into Hollywood

The story of the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters is fit for a Hollywood script.

Two cousins, Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot, will play for the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 title of the season. After Vacherot stunned record four-time champion Novak Djokovic earlier Saturday, Rinderknech clawed past 2019 Shanghai winner Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to make the final a family affair.

“In the best dreams, we couldn't have dreamt about this, so I can't even say it's a dream, because I don't think even one person in our family dreamt about it,” Rinderknech said. “So it wasn't a dream, it's just a dream that came out of nowhere. We started believing it, I would say, in the quarters, maybe…

“Now we are here, we fought through so many matches and somehow we are the [two] guys standing at the end, so it's just incredible.”

The scene after Medvedev hit a double fault to end the match was unforgettable. Rinderknech fell to the court in celebration and Vacherot, who returned to centre court to watch the end of the match, held his head in shock. Vacherot then walked on court for an emotional hug with his cousin.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  45 Hits
Tags:

Vacherot's unforgettable Shanghai run: Five jaw-dropping facts

Valentin Vacherot at the Rolex Shanghai Masters has crafted one of the most memorable runs in ATP Tour history.

A qualifier who entered the tournament No. 204 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Vacherot has introduced himself to the tennis world in stunning fashion, reaching the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event with an upset of 100-time tour-level titlist Novak Djokovic on Saturday.

ATPTour.com looks at five stunning facts about the Monagesque star’s tournament.

Vacherot is lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 series history
Entering Shanghai, the lowest-ranked finalist in Masters 1000 history (since 1990) was Andrei Pavel, who made the championship match at the 2003 Rolex Paris Masters. The Romanian was World No. 191 when he pushed eventual champion Tim Henman to a final-set tie-break before falling short.

Vacherot is the first player outside the Top 200 to make a Masters 1000 final.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  70 Hits
Tags:

Gracious Djokovic focuses on Vacherot, not physical struggles after Shanghai loss: 'All about him'

After a tournament of physical challenges at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Novak Djokovic chose to focus on praising his opponent following his semi-final loss against World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot.

“I want to congratulate Valentin for reaching his first Masters [1000] final,” Djokovic said. “Going from qualifications, it's an amazing story. 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.”

Djokovic showed great perseverance throughout the tournament to reach the last four, and was within two victories of a record-extending 41st ATP Masters 1000 title and first at the level since the 2023 Rolex Paris Masters.

But the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings was unable to navigate past the Monegasque qualifier Vacherot, who became the lowest-ranked finalist in Masters 1000 history, in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

After the match, Djokovic graciously congratulated the 26-year-old at the net and opted to focus on the former college tennis standout at Texas A&M University rather than his ailments during the event. He did not discuss those struggles.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  64 Hits
Tags:

World No. 204 Vacherot stuns ailing Djokovic in Shanghai SF, makes M1000 history

Valentin Vacherot’s seismic breakthrough at the Rolex Shanghai Masters is not over yet. The Monegasque qualifier sank record four-time champion Novak Djokovic in stunning fashion Sunday to reach the championship match.

The No. 204 player in the PIF ATP Rankings prevailed 6-3, 6-4 against Djokovic to become the lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 history (since 1990). Vacherot remained cool and composed throughout to capitalise expertly on the physical struggles of Djokovic, who twice received treatment from the physio on his lower back in the opening set.

Never stop believing ?

World No. 204 @val_vacherot defeats Djokovic to become the lowest ranked ATP Masters 1000 finalist in history.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/ha32DUf8Sc

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 11, 2025

Vacherot won 78 per cent (28/36) of points behind his first serve en route to the biggest win of his career against the World No. 5 Djokovic. Having not been in qualifying when the entry list first came out, the 26-year-old will on Sunday take on his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, for the trophy.

Vacherot, who ensured he will rise into the Top 100 for the first time on Monday by defeating Holger Rune in the quarter-finals, has now risen 146 spots to No. 58 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings as a result of his Shanghai run. His career-high, reached last June, is No. 110. The former college tennis player at Texas A&M University is just the sixth player this century to reach his first ATP Tour final at a Masters 1000 event, and the first to accomplish the feat since Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the 2022 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  69 Hits
Tags:

Tennis Tips: Improving Your Serve

Improving your serve is one of the most effective ways to elevate your tennis game. A powerful and accurate serve can give you a significant advantage, often dictating the pace of the point from the very beginning. This guide will cover key aspects of developing a more effective serve, from foundational techniques to advanced strategies. The Grip: ...

Continue reading
  54 Hits
Tags:

2025 Nitto ATP Finals prize money: Record champion's cheque at stake

An undefeated champion at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals will walk away with a record $5,071,000, the richest payout in the event’s history.

The prestigious season finale, held from 9-16 November at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, will feature an event record $15.5 million in total prize money.

Last year, Jannik Sinner set a new benchmark when he stormed to the title without dropping a set, collecting $4,881,100 — then the largest prize awarded at the event. Now a Nitto ATP Finals champion could break $5 million in winnings for the first time.

Each match from the semi-finals onwards will be worth more than $1 million. The semi-final victors will add $1,183,500 to their tally, while the champion of the title match will take home $2,367,000 on top of what they earned earlier in the tournament. See the full distribution below.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  217 Hits
Tags:

Tennis Strings: A Comprehensive Guide

Tennis strings are a crucial component of any tennis racket, significantly impacting a player's performance, feel, and control. Choosing the right string involves understanding various types, materials, gauges, and tensions. Types of Tennis Strings Different string types cater to different playing styles and preferences. Natural Gut Natural gut str...

Continue reading
  161 Hits
Tags:

Alcaraz, tested by movement concerns & Ruud, sets Tokyo final vs. Fritz

Carlos Alcaraz faced perhaps the sternest examination of his debut run at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships on Monday, but he emerged with flying colours to book his spot in the final.

The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings overcame a resilient Casper Ruud and his own fitness concerns to secure a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory at the ATP 500 event. Alcaraz, who displayed limited movement at times during the opening set, eventually rediscovered his sharpness to set up a title showdown with former Tokyo champion Taylor Fritz.

“I had a lot of chances in the first set,” said Alcaraz. “I had four break points if I'm not wrong. It’s just about details, so I just tried to be more positive than the first set. I was a little bit mad with myself, so I just tried to play with joy again, putting a lot of positive thoughts in my mind.”

With his two-hour, eight-minute victory, Alcaraz notched his personal-best 66th win in a season. On Tuesday, the 22-year-old Spaniard will seek revenge against Fritz, who defeated him at the Laver Cup last week.

“I know he’s playing great tennis lately,” Alcaraz said of Fritz, who also defeated Alexander Zverev in San Francisco. “Since the Laver Cup against me, against Zverev, and here in this tournament, he’s feeling great and really comfortable on the court. Everything is different since San Francisco... But it’s another challenge for me and I’m looking forward to it.”

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  213 Hits
Tags:

2025 Shanghai tennis prize money

The Rolex Shanghai Masters in Shanghai, China, which this year runs 1-12 October, has announced a prize money total of US $9,193,540 for the 2025 edition.

The singles champion will earn US $1,124,380, and the winning doubles team will split US $457,150. View the full prize-money breakdown and the PIF ATP Rankings points at stake below.

2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters Singles Prize Money

Rounds  Points  Prize Money 
 Winner  1000  $1,124,380
 Finalist  600 $597,890 
 Semi-finalist  400  $332,160
 Quarter-finalist  200  $189,075
 Round of 16  100  $103,225
 Round of 32  50  $60,400
 Round of 64  30  $35,260
 Round of 96  10  $23,760

2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters Doubles Prize Money

Rounds  Points  Prize Money 
Winner   1000  $457,150
 Finalist  600   $242,020
 Semi-finalist  360  $129,970
 Quarter-finalist  180  $65,000
 Round of 16  90  $34,850
 Round of 32  0  $19,050
[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  181 Hits
Tags:

Sinner summons late surge, sinks Marozsan in Beijing

Jannik Sinner produced a blazing finish to outmanoeuvre Fabian Marozsan and book his semi-final spot Monday at the China Open in Beijing.

The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner rallied from a break down by winning the final three games of the match for a 6-1, 7-5 triumph against Marozsan in Beijing. After racing through the opening set, the Italian had to produce some of his best tennis to escape a 4-5 deficit and set a semi-final showdown with his fellow Top 10 star Alex de Minaur.

Winner winner, Sinner Sinner ?@janniksin brings up his 40th tour-level victory, defeating Marozsan 6-1 7-5 and returns to the Beijing final four.@chinaopen | #2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/wzXxFEFjCl

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2025

“I feel like I started off very well in the first set and we both played very well in the second set,” said Sinner. “I had some big chances at 4-3 but couldn’t use them. He’s someone whose peak is very high, I knew that before the match. When he was serving for the set, he made a couple of unforced errors which helped me of course to come back and win in two.

“It’s psychological of course, too, but it’s also how you arrive at these moments. I tried to fight, had some tough service game holds from 0/30 a couple of times. I’m happy how I fought today.”

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  220 Hits
Tags:

Orleans Challenger turns 20, celebrating blend of tennis, art and French cuisine

The Co’Met Orléans Open is more than just another stop on the ATP Challenger Tour, which last year boasted more than 200 events stretched across the globe.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this week, the indoor hard-court event in Orleans has been a showcase of tennis, culture, and French tradition. This anniversary milestone reflects the tournament organisers’ reputation for going above and beyond to provide a world-class experience for both players and fans.

“I wish I was 20! But it’s the tournament that is 20 years old,” said tournament director Didier Gerard with a smile, speaking in French in a video posted on the Co’Met Orléans Open YouTube channel. “I never thought I would do so many tournaments. It’s so complicated to organise an event like this, but thanks to the team, we managed to put on a great tournament every year.”

From the tournament’s earliest days, Gerard envisioned something unique. Rather than simply staging a tennis competition, he sought to craft an event that left a lasting impression, with French gastronomy woven into the tournament. Each day, a renowned chef steps into the kitchens to prepare top-quality meals for players and patrons. Among the distinguished culinary figures this week include Bernard Vaussion — a former executive chef of the Élysée Palace — who cooked for six French presidents across four decades.

No wonder nearly 26,000 spectators flock to the Co’Met Orléans Open each year. Yet the fan-favourite event was not without its early growing pains, according to Gerard.

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  116 Hits
Tags:

Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

The ATP Tour stars will head to Shanghai, China, for the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 2025 edition of the tournament will be headlined by Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic.

Here's what you need to know ahead of the Chinese tournament.

When is the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The ATP Masters 1000 event will be held from 1-12 October. The hard-court tournament, established in 2009, is played at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center. The tournament director is Michael A. Lueveno.

Who is playing at the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

Top 10 stars Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev, Fritz, Shelton, Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti are among those set to compete in Shanghai. Zhang Zhizhen and #NextGenATP Shang Juncheng will lead the home charge.

When is the draw for the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The Rolex Shanghai Masters draw will be made on Monday, 29 September at 10:30 a.m. local time (China Standard Time).

Continue reading

Copyright

© Tennis - ATP World Tour

  197 Hits
Tags:

RacketStar.com