SHANGHAI — Valentin Vacherot earned the biggest win of his career by beating a hobbled Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the Shanghai Masters final where he will face his cousin.
The 204th-ranked Vacherot, of Monaco, was an alternate in qualifying but is having a career week.
“Is this real? I don’t know,” Vacherot, 26, said moments after defeating the 24-time Grand Slam champion. “To have Novak on the other side of the court was, first of all, an unbelievable experience for me.”
Well, believe it or not, his next court experience will be against his cousin Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated 16th-seeded Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the other semifinal.
Djokovic, 38, was slowed throughout the match by a sore hip. He took a medical timeout after falling behind 4-3 in the opening set. He won only one point in the next two games.
But the four-time tournament champion did not make an excuse of his physical struggles.
“It’s all about him,” Djokovic said. “I wish him all the best in the final, and the better player won today.
“Going from qualifications, it’s an amazing story,” Djokovic added. “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.”
Vacherot played college tennis at Texas A&M.
