Shanghai, Oct 9 (NationPress) Valentin Vacherot's remarkable journey at the 2025 Shanghai Masters reached an exhilarating peak on Thursday as the Monaco qualifier achieved the greatest victory of his career, defeating the 10th seed Holger Rune with scores of 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals of this prestigious ATP Masters 1000 competition.

Despite a challenging start, the 26-year-old ranked No. 204 in the world demonstrated exceptional perseverance, rallying against the ailing Dane and clinching the match in just under three hours.

This victory not only propelled him into the semi-finals but also marked his long-awaited entry into the global Top 100. With this win, Vacherot soared 112 positions to No. 92 in the live ATP Rankings, becoming the lowest-ranked semi-finalist in Masters 1000 history since 1990.

“I didn’t enter as a qualifier; I was an alternate. I wasn’t even certain I would compete in the qualifiers,” Vacherot reflected post-match. “This feels absolutely surreal. My last win was incredibly significant, but this one is even more special.”

The emotional milestone was a moment of triumph for the Monegasque player, who confessed he tried to maintain his composure as the prospect of breaking into the Top 100 became a reality.

“It was challenging not to fixate on it at match point, especially with the Top 100 in sight,” he admitted. “I understand this is just one step, but I attempted to ignore the rankings throughout this tournament. I had heard that a win here would secure my place in the Top 100, but this is simply mind-blowing for me. I can't wait for the semi-finals. I’m incredibly happy and living my dream.”

Rune, currently ranked No. 11 in the world, requested medical assistance twice during the final set as he dealt with a leg injury, yet Vacherot remained steadfast under pressure. He saved two break points in the decisive tenth game before converting his second match point to secure this monumental win.

Vacherot's journey in Shanghai is a testament to his grit and determination, having come back from a set down in five of his seven matches thus far, including two in the qualifying rounds.

Reflecting on his performance, he stated, “In the first set, I was physically overwhelmed. It was a level above what I was accustomed to. I felt that Tallon (Griekspoor, in the fourth round) was playing exceptionally well. Sascha Bublik, we know how unpredictable he can be. But today, I was astonished by Rune's defensive skills. Points I would typically win against 90% of the players were just routine balls for him.”

He continued, “I thought I was going to have an easy volley coming in. The first set was physically taxing. My lungs were screaming a bit, but that pushed me to play more freely in the second set.”

As the first Monegasque to reach the quarter-finals in Masters 1000 history, Vacherot extended his fairy tale run by converting two of his four break points against Rune.

He is now set to face either Novak Djokovic or Zizou Bergs for a shot at his first ATP final—an extraordinary culmination to a breakthrough week for the unheralded 26-year-old who, by his own acknowledgment, “wasn’t even sure he’d compete in the qualifiers.”