Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising semifinal defeat at the Shanghai Masters, falling to world No. 204 Valentin Vacherot in straight sets. The Serb refused to address questions about his physical condition following the 6-3, 6-4 loss on Saturday. The upset marked another chapter in what has been a challenging season for the 38-year-old champion.
What Did Novak Djokovic Say Following His Shanghai Masters Defeat Against Valentin Vacherot?
The match between Djokovic and Vacherot delivered one of the biggest upsets in recent Masters 1000 history. Vacherot, who entered the tournament as an alternate qualifier, stunned the four-time Shanghai champion in straight sets during harsh conditions.
Djokovic broke early in the first set but quickly lost control as physical problems became clear. The 38-year-old took a medical timeout in the seventh game of the first set, getting treatment on his lower back while lying without his shirt on court. He struggled through long treatment from the doctor but kept having movement problems throughout the rest of the match.
The weather proved tough for Djokovic, who had thrown up courtside during earlier matches this week. Playing in 31-degree heat with 62 percent humidity, he needed multiple medical breaks but could not find his normal fighting spirit.
During the press conference after, Djokovic made it clear he would not talk about his physical problems. When asked about his condition, he simply said: “No. Next question, please.”
Instead, the 24-time Grand Slam champion chose to focus completely on his opponent’s great performance.
Novak Djokovic did not want to speak about his physical issues after his loss to Vacherot, ‘I want to congratulate Valentin… Going from qualifications, it’s an amazing story… it’s all about him’
“How do you feel after this match, how much did you risk to continue, and can I… pic.twitter.com/TPLsTam8Qt
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 11, 2025
“I want to congratulate Valentin for reaching his first Masters final. Going from qualifications, it’s an amazing story,” Djokovic said. “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. So it’s all about him. I wish him all the best in the finals, and the better player won today.”
Another Semifinal Heartbreak for Djokovic’s Challenging 2025 Season
The loss means another semifinal defeat for Djokovic in what has been a season of close calls. The Serbian made history in 2025 by becoming the oldest player to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slams in one year, but could not win any of those matches. This same pattern happened in Shanghai, where he was aiming his record 41st Masters 1000 title.
The moment HISTORY was made 🤩
From an Alternate to the Final, Valentin Vacherot has booked himself a spot in Sundays showdown 💪#RolexShnaghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/pqLaGhbhpb
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 11, 2025
His loss to world No. 204 Vacherot ranks as one of his most shocking defeats this season. Vacherot’s ranking will jump up hugely after his historic run, with the Monaco player set to break into the top 100 for the first time. He should rise about 146 spots to around No. 58 in the live rankings after this amazing week.
The 26-year-old qualifier will play either Daniil Medvedev or Arthur Rinderknech in Sunday’s final. Amazingly, Rinderknech is Vacherot’s cousin, which could make the first family final in Masters 1000 history. Vacherot has become the lowest-ranked player ever to reach a Masters 1000 final since the format started in 1990.