The 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters Concludes Successfully: Federer Joins, Dark Horse Vacherot Triumphs

On October 12th, the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters concluded successfully at the Qizhong Tennis Center in Jiushi Sports Complex. The men’s singles final saw a touching yet fierce “family battle” — Monaco qualifier Valentin Vacherot competed against his cousin, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. Ultimately, after losing the first set 4-6, Vacherot staged a resilient comeback to win the next two sets 6-3, 6-3, claiming his first ATP Tour title and the men’s singles crown at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. He created an inspiring personal milestone while making new history for Monaco tennis. Both players reached their first ATP 1000 Masters final, delivering a spectacular match that perfectly capped off the tournament.

Rinderknech (left) and Vacherot (right)

Before the tournament, Vacherot was ranked only 204th in the world and did not initially qualify directly for the qualifiers. He gained entry as a lucky replacement due to a withdrawal. Starting from the qualifiers, he embarked on an incredible “dark horse journey”: winning nine consecutive matches and defeating five seeded players along the way — Bublik, Mahach, Griekspoor, Rune, and Djokovic. Even more impressively, in six of his nine matches in Shanghai, he came back from losing the first set, showcasing his tenacity and extraordinary mental strength.

Vacherot Claims the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters Men’s Singles Title

With 1020 points earned from this event, Vacherot’s world ranking rocketed to 40th place; additionally, he secured a prize of $1,124,380, nearly doubling his career earnings to date. Runner-up Rinderknech also gained significantly, defeating several seeded players such as Mikkelsen, Zverev, Lehecka, Aliassime, and Medvedev to rise to 28th in the world, marking his highest career ranking.

A Tender Moment Between Vacherot and His Cousin Rinderknech

After winning the title, Vacherot wrote in front of the cameras, “Grandpa and Grandma must be very proud,” a touching moment that moved many spectators. At the post-match press conference, he admitted, “Reaching any final feels different, but today it was especially unique and challenging because my cousin was on the other side of the court. As professional tennis players, we must always fight hard to win. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner, but our family won, and tennis won — to me, the story we just wrote together is truly incredible!”

Rolex Ambassador Federer Watches Live

Swiss tennis legend and Rolex ambassador Roger Federer made a surprise appearance, adding extra excitement to the final. Having won the Shanghai Masters four times (the 2006-2007 Shanghai Masters Cup and the 2014 and 2017 Shanghai Rolex Masters), he watched the entire match. Vacherot revealed, “Honestly, every time I won or lost a point, I couldn’t help but glance at Roger to see his reaction to my shots. Having him here witnessing this means a lot to me. I also noticed that whenever the big screen showed him, the crowd’s cheers were even louder than when we scored great points. That’s the impact he has on tennis — even three years after retirement, he remains so great. After playing Novak Djokovic yesterday and seeing Roger today, this week has been crazy and unforgettable from both tennis and other perspectives.”

Pütz/Krawietz Win Men’s Doubles Title

The doubles competition was equally thrilling. The German duo Pütz and Krawietz, displaying excellent teamwork, defeated Jørgensen and Mikkelsen in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the final, capturing the doubles championship. This was their first Masters title as a team.

Night of Super Friends

As one of the nine ATP 1000 Masters tournaments globally and the only one in Asia, the Shanghai Rolex Masters remains a favorite among players. Stars like Djokovic and Medvedev have often expressed their fondness for the city; Federer acted as the “Shanghai city ambassador” during the event, cross-sport paddling on the Huangpu River with China’s first F1 driver Zhou Guanyu, and sharing the stage at the Qizhong Tennis Center with international action star Donnie Yen, national-level actor Wu Lei, and Chinese tennis legend Zheng Jie for a “Night of Super Friends” with over ten thousand fans, promising to reunite next year.

The Chinese team also delivered strong performances fueled by passionate hometown support. Shang Juncheng reached the ATP 1000 Masters round of 32 for the first time in his career and achieved a major breakthrough by defeating a top-10 player (Kachanov) for the first time; Bu Yunchaokete also advanced to the second round after a tough win over Ho Serendolo. Several Chinese players expressed that competing at home in Shanghai and feeling the fans’ support in a familiar atmosphere was a very precious experience.

Shanghai Rolex Masters Ticket Sales Surpass 100 Million Yuan for the First Time

This year, the Qizhong Tennis Center underwent significant facility upgrades: Stadium 2 added a retractable roof, providing spectators with a “rain or shine” viewing experience; Court 17 was upgraded into a “Masters training court” with 1,200 comfortable seats, allowing fans to watch top players train up close and safely. The two-week tournament coincided with the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, driving a surge in popularity — ticket sales surpassed 100 million yuan for the first time, with approximately 250,000 attendees throughout, setting a new event record.

Rolex’s Dedicated Sponsorship of the Shanghai Rolex Masters

The Swiss luxury watch brand Rolex has a deep partnership with the Shanghai Rolex Masters: since the inaugural event in 2009, Rolex has been a top-level sponsor; in 2010, the brand upgraded to title sponsor status and has maintained it ever since. Over more than a decade, the collaboration has helped the tournament win multiple “Best ATP 1000 Tournament of the Year” awards, while seamlessly blending Rolex’s pursuit of precision and excellence with tennis’s competitive spirit. In 2023, the partnership was renewed for another ten years, continuing to power the growth of Chinese tennis.

The 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters Concludes Successfully

From the opening of the qualifiers on September 29th to the final on October 12th, the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters delivered countless thrilling moments over two weeks — surprises with multiple upsets, passionate battles, and the unprecedented inspiring story of a qualifier dark horse winning the Masters title, leaving a vivid mark on the tournament’s history.

Photo credit: Charlie, Visual China