The Shanghai Masters will feature an unprecedented all-cousin final after Valentin Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world, toppled an injured Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 to become the lowest-ranked finalist in Masters 1000 history.
The Monégasque qualifier's stunning victory sets up a championship match against his cousin Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated Daniil Medvedev in Saturday's other semifinal.
Vacherot capitalized on Djokovic's apparent left gluteal muscle injury, which forced the Serbian star to take a medical timeout during the first set and limited his mobility throughout the match.
Despite facing overwhelming crowd support for his opponent, the 25-year-old maintained composure during a protracted final game to secure his eighth consecutive victory in Shanghai, including earlier wins over seeded players Alexander Bublik and Holger Rune.
Rinderknech, the world No. 54, reached his first Masters final by overcoming former world No. 1 Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, creating a historic family showdown between former Texas A&M teammates.
"I can't even say it's a dream because I don't think even one person in our family dreamed about it," Rinderknech said after the match, describing their simultaneous breakthroughs as incredible.
Djokovic's physical struggles continued after earlier difficulties with Shanghai's heat and humidity had caused him to vomit during initial rounds.
The 38-year-old, who hasn't won a Masters title since 2023, graciously told Vacherot "You deserve it" during their post-match embrace despite the disappointing conclusion to a tournament that had opened following withdrawals by rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
