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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.

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

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.

Editor's Note: This feature about Daniil Medvedev was originally published on 4 October.

Daniil Medvedev has not lost his fire. He is just looking for another spark.

At age 29, the 20-time tour-level titlist is at a crossroads in his career, seeking to regain the confidence and consistency that helped him reach World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, among other accomplishments. Medvedev is doing so with new voices in his corner.

Having gone 50 tournaments without lifting a trophy since winning five titles in the first five months of 2023 through Rome, Medvedev recently split with longtime coach Gilles Cervara. He is now working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke.

“It was not an easy decision,” the 2021 US Open champion told ATP Media at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he won the title in 2019. “But at the same time, I'm 29 years old, almost 30 soon, and [I wanted] to try something new in my adult career. Because even when we started with Gilles, I was too young, so it was with my parents a bit. The academy where I was going was designing [my team]... To do it by myself was something nice because it was something new in my life.”

As the Qizhong Tennis Center celebrates its 20th anniversary, there are plenty of eye-catching facility upgrades to see at the home of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Asia’s biggest ATP Tour event.

Renowned for its iconic magnolia retractable roof, the Qizhong Tennis Center opened in 2005 and hosted the Tennis Masters Cup for four consecutive years before the inaugural ATP Masters 1000 event began in 2009. Tournament director Michael Luevano and managing director Charles Humphrey Smith have seen the growth of not only the tournament, but also the facilities, most recently exemplified by this year’s developments.

"We have two new features this year,” said Smith. “One is a new roof at Grandstand 2, a fantastic design unlike anything in the world. And a new practice court, which is probably the first in tennis that we built — a stadium just for practice for our top players.”

The 1,400-seat practice stadium allows fans an intimate view of the world’s best players.

"It's a more relaxed environment and in one day, [fans] probably see two or three of the best players in the world here, so for them it's sort of a buffet of the best,” Smith added.

Unseeded Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen defeated top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 7-6(2), 2-6, 10-7 on Friday to reach the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The first-time duo was 0 for 7 on break points in the one-hour, 41-minute match, including 0 of 5 in the first set. Despite Goransson getting broken in the fourth and eighth games of the second set, they regrouped in the Match Tie-break.

Goransson/Michelsen went up 3-0 in the deciding tie-break and after Arevalo/Pavic tied it at 3-3, both teams held serve until Arevalo double-faulted at 7-8. Arevalo then hit a forehand wide on match point, putting the Swede and American in the final.

"It was like three or four days before I went to Laver Cup, he texted me and I was like, why not," said Michelsen on how they teamed up. "Now we're in the final."

Goransson is the first Swede to reach the doubles final in tournament history (since 2009) and he will attempt to become the first Swede to win an ATP Masters 1000 doubles title since Robert Lindstedt in 2012 Cincinnati (with Horia Tecau). Goransson will be appearing in his first ATP Masters 1000 final and eighth career final (3-4). His last title came in April at the 500-level tournament in Munich, with Sem Verbeek. His other titles came in Newport last year (also with Verbeek) and Pune in 2020 (with Christopher Rungkat).

Two-time Rolex Shanghai Masters champion Roger Federer was back on centre court in China on Friday for an exhibition match, teaming with actor Donnie Yen to play actor Wu Lei and former WTA star Zheng Jie.

In a match featuring three tie-breaks, Federer and Yen earned a comeback victory, 5-7, 10-8, 7-1.

While the Chinese actors admitted to feeling nerves before the match, Federer praised their effort: "It shows that you care," he said of their pre-match jitters. "I think you did really well. Thank you for coming. I could see you had a great time."

The Swiss also credited Yen and Wu for their hard work in preparing for the match: "I want to say about practicing so hard to get ready for the match, for Donnie and for you, Lei. [Jie and I] don't have to practice as much as them, but just to see the passion behind the practice sessions, I hope they can carry it after the match as well," he said. "And also maybe people who are watching and who are here at the stadium, just to show how important sports is for everyday life, for happiness. I'm happy we could share centre court here in Qizhong Stadium today."

Federer also played an exhibition match last year in Shanghai, teaming with Chinese singer and actor Eason Chan against the ATP Tour's Zhang Zhizhen and table tennis champion Fan Zhendong.

The ATP has today announced the appointment of Andre Silva as Chief Tour Officer. Silva brings extensive international leadership experience across professional tennis and global sport, including senior roles with TEAM8, tournament leadership at the Cincinnati Open, and executive positions at the PGA Tour overseeing flagship events such as THE PLAYERS Championship and The Presidents Cup.

He also previously served as ATP Chief Player Officer and Tournament Director of the Nitto ATP Finals. With a track record spanning athlete representation, major event delivery and commercial operations, combined with a deep understanding of player and tournament relations, Silva is uniquely positioned to lead the Tour at a transformative moment for men’s tennis. He succeeds Ross Hutchins, who has held the role since 2020.

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, said: “Andre is a proven leader with a unique combination of experience across players, tournaments and other sports. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as we continue building a stronger, more compelling ATP Tour, as well as advocating to unify the broader tennis landscape through our OneVision plan.”

Andre Silva, incoming ATP Chief Tour Officer, said: “It’s an honour to return to the ATP and contribute to the sport that has shaped my professional life. I’m energised by the progress the Tour has made in recent years and look forward to working with players, tournaments and stakeholders to take our sport to even greater heights.”

Silva will assume his new role from 1 November 2025 and will be based out of the ATP’s Florida office.

Daniil Medvedev recorded his 50th Top 10 win on Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he defeated Alex de Minaur to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final of the season.

In a physical encounter, with more than 32 points going beyond nine shots, Medvedev found the edge against De Minaur, who was slightly off his best. The 29-year-old struck 11 more winners than the Australian (27-16), committed two fewer unforced errors (25-27) and won 15 of his 16 first-serve points in the second set to advance after one hour and 53 minutes.

"I was super tired and I knew against Alex, like against Learner, we would have long points. I think in the third or fourth game we had a couple and I thought it was going to be a long day, but I am happy with the way I played," Medvedev said. "I was really clutch in the important moments and hitting the ball great and putting him under pressure. The second set was tight but I found the best at the end. I am really happy with the level."

Medvedev is chasing his first tour-level title since Rome in May 2023 and he will next meet Arthur Rinderknech in the last four. Earlier this season, Medvedev advanced to the semi-finals in Indian Wells but lost to Holger Rune.

Medvedev, who triumphed in Shanghai in 2019, has reached 50 tour-level semi-finals on hard courts, with 18 of his 20 titles coming on the surface. He has been made to work hard in Shanghai on his quest for title number 21, also surviving a three-set epic against Learner Tien in the fourth round.

Arthur Rinderknech earned the biggest win of his career on Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he moved past Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.

Rinderknech defeated World No. 3 Alexander Zverev and World No. 19 Jiri Lehecka to advance to his maiden Masters 1000 quarter-final, and ensured his run would not end against World No. 13 Auger-Aliassime. The Frenchman produced a high-quality display of aggressive striking and closed out the match with authority, sealing a dominant 6-3, 6-4 victory on his second match point after 87 minutes.

Following his victory, Rinderknech raised his arms aloft and looked toward his cousin Valentin Vacherot, who is in semi-final action against Novak Djokovic on Saturday. Read more about the cousins' dream tournament.

"It is huge. First of all, I followed my cousin," Rinderknech said, referencing qualifier Vacherot, who is set to break the Top 100 after becoming the first Monegasque player to reach a tour-level semi-final. "He was going through the emotions on Thursday and I am trying to follow and battle and do the same as him. It has been incredible since the start of the tournament.

"The whole family is following from home. We are in our own little world here. It has been incredible and today was a good performance from myself and I am happy it was straight sets, so I am not too tired for tomorrow."

Arthur Rinderknech is making his mark this week at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he has advanced to the semi-finals at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time. The 30-year-old has earned three consecutive Top 20 wins at the tournament, defeating Alexander Zverev, Jiri Lehecka and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to know about Rinderknech. Editor's Note: This story was originally published on 31 August 2025.

College roots in Texas
While many future pros were travelling on the junior circuit, Rinderknech was charting a different course, 8,000 kilometres from home. The Frenchman chose to play college tennis at Texas A&M University, spending four years in College Station, a town better known for college football than tennis.

“I felt like it was the best fit for me,” Rinderknech told ATPTour.com in the past. “I wasn’t the best in juniors. I was probably only ranked about fifth, sixth or seventh at my age in France, so I didn’t have much help. I wanted to keep playing tennis, not only go to school, and I could do both of them in the States, so that’s why I decided to go there. It was just a great experience and I kept improving.”

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.

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.

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: ...

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...

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.

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.”

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

2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters Doubles Prize Money

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

“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.”

Novak Djokovic is on a semi-final collision course with World No. 2 Jannik Sinner following the release of the Rolex Shanghai Masters draw Monday.

Djokovic, who fell to the Italian in the semi-finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season, returns to competition for the first time since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semi-finals.

[ATP APP]

The fourth-seeded Serbian and four-time Shanghai champion will play the winner of Frenchman Corentin Moutet and Marin Cilic in his opening match. He is seeded to meet Frances Tiafoe in the third round, Andrey Rublev in the fourth round and Ben Shelton or Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic, No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is 31-11 on the year according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss index after reaching all four Grand Slam semi-finals this season. 

The 2025 China Open continues on Monday in Beijing, where top seed Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev are among the stars in quarter-final action at the ATP 500 event.

View Monday's full schedule below...

ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2025
Capital Group Diamond - start 11:00
WTA - [4] Mirra Andreeva vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP)

Not Before 13:00
ATP - [3] Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs [7] Jakub Mensik (CZE)
ATP - [1] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs Fabian Marozsan (HUN)

Not Before 19:00
WTA - [26] Linda Noskova (CZE) vs [7] Qinwen Zheng (CHN)

Not Before 20:30
ATP - [8] Daniil Medvedev vs [2] Alexander Zverev (GER)

Lotus - start 11:00
ATP - [1] Julian Cash (GBR) / Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) vs Karen Khachanov / Andrey Rublev