Four-time champion Novak Djokovic and 2019 winner Daniil Medvedev along with cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot are in the semi-finals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Saturday. In the day session, Djokovic makes his 10th Shanghai semi-final showing against qualifier Vacherot, who is the first player from Monaco to reach an ATP Tour semi-final. This is a first-time meeting. In the evening session, Medvedev looks for his second win against Rinderknech after winning the previous meeting in straight sets in the second round of the 2022 US Open. Here are Saturday's match-ups in order of play:
* [4] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [Q] Valentin Vacherot (MON) -- First Meeting
Djokovic is appearing in the semi-finals here for the 10th time in 11 appearances. He is 5-4 in semi-final matches and 4-1 in finals, which are the most in tournament history. He has lost two sets so far in his four wins, in the third round over [Q] Yannick Hanfmann 4-6 7-5 6-3 and in the fourth round against Jaume Munar 6-3 5-7 6-2. He has the most wins in Rolex Shanghai Masters history (43-6). The 38-year-old Serbian superstar is the oldest player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. Also won his first Tennis Masters Cup here in 2008 (now Nitto ATP Finals). Has a record seven year-end ATP Finals titles. He is playing in his first tournament since reaching the semi-finals at US Open (l. to Alcaraz). He advanced to the semi-finals in all four Grand Slam tournaments and first time since 2017 he did not reach a major final during the year. The World No. 5 has a 35-10 match record this season (21-6 on hard, 9-3 on clay, 5-1 on grass), including 20-4 in Grand Slam play and 8-4 in ATP Masters 1000 events. The all-time leader in men's tennis with most Grand Slam titles (24) and ATP Masters 1000 titles (40). Also leads both in wins with 397 and 418, respectively. He captured his 100th career title in Geneva in May leading into Roland-Garros (d. Huracz) and one of three men in Open Era to reach the Century Club along with Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). He also became the first man in the Open Era to win titles in 20 different seasons.
Vacherot is appearing in his first ATP Tour semi-final and he's the lowest-ranked semi-finalist (No. 204) in tournament history. He has climbed to No. 92 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings (will go to No. 58 if reaches final) and he is the first player born in Monaco to break the Top 100 in ATP Rankings history (since 1973). He qualified with two three-set wins from a set down and posted main draw wins over Laslo Djere 6-3 6-4, No. 14 seed Alexander Bublik 3-6 6-3 6-4, No. 20 Tomas Machac 6-0 3-1 Ret. (right knee), No. 27 Tallon Griekspoor 4-6 7-6(1) 6-4 and No. 11 Holger Rune 2-6 7-6(4) 6-4. The win over No. 11-ranked Rune was his best career win. He is the first player from Monaco to reach a QF and SF in an ATP Tour tournament. Cousin Arthur Rinderknech is also in the SFs and they were also former teammates at Texas A&M University for two and a-half years from 2016-17 and 2018. He achieved a career-high ranking No. 110 in June 2024 after 15-0 start to the season on Challenger level but a right shoulder injury forced him to only play two tournaments in the last seven months of the years. He is coached by former Monegasque player and half-brother Benjamin Balleret, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 204 in 2006.
[16] Daniil Medvedev vs Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) -- Medvedev leads 1-0 Previous Meeting:2022 US Open 2R, Medvedev 6-2 7-5 6-3
Medvedev has only dropped one set en route to the semi-finals, that coming in the fourth round against Learner Tien 7-6(6) 6-7(1) 6-4. He has a 14-4 record in Shanghai after a 6-4 6-4 win over No. 7 Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals (saved all six break points faced). The 2019 champion was one of three former winners in the draw (also Djokovic, Sinner) and leads the ATP Tour in hard-court wins since 2018 (298). He is 34-20 overall this season, including 23-13 on hard courts (6-4 on clay, 5-3 on grass), the eighth straight year he's won 20+ matches on hard courts. He is 8-2 on the China swing after advancing to Hangzhou QF and Beijing SF in last two tournaments. Has played in 50 tournaments since winning his last title in 2023 ATP Masters 1000 Rome (d. Rune). His best result this season is a runner-up in Halle (l. to Bublik). Also semi-finalist in Marseille (l. to Medjedovic), ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (l. to Rune) and last week in Beijing (ret. vs Tien). Has 20 career tour-level titles, all in different tournaments and trying to win his first title twice here in Shanghai.
Rinderknech is appearing in his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final and he joins his cousin [Q] Valentin Vacherot in the final four. He has a 6-2 record in Shanghai after wins over Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(3) 1-0 Ret., No. 28 seed Alex Michelsen 6-3 6-4, No. 3 Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-2, No. 15 Jiri Lehecka 6-3 7-6(5) and No. 12 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-4. Has only been broken three times, holding 48 of 51 service games (94%), saving 19 of 22 break pts. (86%). The 30-year-old Frenchman is 25-25 on the season (13-14 on hard, 6-7 on clay, 6-4 on grass) with his best results the semi-finals in Kitzbuhel (l. to Cazaux) and also the quarter-finals at London/Queen's Club (as a qualifier) where he defeated Opelka and Shelton before losing to eventual champion Alcaraz. Also lost to Alcaraz in 4R at US Open, his best career Grand Slam result. Came in ranked No. 54 and will return to the Top 50 next Monday at a career-high No. 37 for the first time since January 2023. If he reaches his second career ATP Tour final (2022 Adelaide, l. to Kokkinakis), he will move to No. 28. Came into this season 0-12 vs. Top 10 opponents but has a 4-6 record with two wins over Zverev (here and Wimbledon), No. 10 Shelton in 1R at London/Queen's Club and No. 15 Lehecka in the fourth round.
