A Brilliant Finale: Shanghai Shines at the Pinnacle of Tennis

As night fell like a deep blue velvet drape gently covering the Qizhong Forest Tennis Center, thousands of eyes converged beneath the stadium’s massive dome, all gathered to witness the crowning of a champion. The 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters officially concluded at the Qizhong Forest Tennis Center, bringing a perfect close to this two-week global tennis extravaganza.

Vacherot

The biggest surprise for the YONEX team in this tournament was undoubtedly 26-year-old Monaco player Vacherot. Starting from the qualifiers, he defeated four seeded players—Bublik, Mahach, Griekspoor, and Djokovic—to reach the final. His story of facing his cousin Lindeknech in the championship match was equally moving. Overcoming a set deficit in the deciding set, Vacherot fought back with boldness and aggressive play to win in three sets, becoming the lowest-ranked Masters champion in history and making unprecedented history for his home country Monaco, marking one of the biggest upsets in tennis history.

Before the tournament began, Vacherot was ranked only No.204 in the world, and he and his team had set an early goal of breaking into the Top 100 this year. As the season neared its end, this goal seemed increasingly out of reach, but Vacherot remained hopeful. He once told friends, “I’ll see if I can get into the Shanghai qualifiers; who knows if I’ll do well?” Three days before the qualifiers, he arrived in Shanghai after a 20-hour flight from Monaco, still unsure if he would compete. Then, just a day before qualifying began, he was a last-minute replacement, starting a legendary journey toward the title.

In the latest rankings update, Vacherot soared 164 places to No.40. In a post-match interview, he said, “Actually, I was already thinking about Shanghai this summer. It’s the biggest tournament before the season ends, and I knew I had a chance to play. If I wanted to reach the Top 100, I had to perform well in Shanghai. But I never imagined this outcome — it’s simply amazing.” The allure of competitive sports lies not only in victory and passion but also in the unending hope and daring to chase seemingly unreachable dreams.

Vacherot’s nine consecutive wins in Shanghai have showcased his potential and strength. He possesses a powerful serve and an aggressive playing style that often turns defensive situations into attacking opportunities. His racket, the YONEX VCORE 100, perfectly complements his bold technique, enabling him to deliver shots that astonish the world and ultimately helping him achieve his dream and claim the championship.

Berghes

Two other YONEX players who made significant breakthroughs in this tournament were Belgian player Berghes and Spanish player Munar. Positioned in the 3/4 quarter, Berghes defeated seeded players Ruud, Cerundolo, and Diallo, reaching the Masters quarterfinals for the first time — a major milestone in his career. Notably, he saved two match points to win against Canadian Diallo. Following this, he achieved a career-high ranking of No.39, breaking into the Top 40 for the first time.

When asked about the key to his breakthrough in this tournament, Berghes attributed it to a courageous mindset: “I’ve always stayed true to myself on court, which means playing boldly. I truly believe that fearless offense will help me win more matches in the future. (Reaching the Masters quarterfinals) means a lot to me. I’m already 26, and I’m constantly pushing my limits. I look forward to realizing my full potential.”

Berghes’s outstanding performance in Shanghai revealed his vast room for growth. He is a player who combines power and skill, and his YONEX VCORE 98 racket offers the precision and stability he needs, perfectly suited for a player who seeks to dominate with active power and well-rounded technique.

Munar

Spanish player Munar reached the round of 16 in this tournament, marking his best performance in three appearances in Shanghai. He consecutively defeated Hungary’s Fucsovics, 22nd seed Kecmanovic, and Japan’s Nishioka to advance to the fourth round, before narrowly losing a three-set battle to Serbian star Djokovic.

As a young player who rose to fame early, Munar’s development hasn’t been meteoric but steady, climbing the rankings step by step. Trained in Spain’s tennis system as a clay-court specialist, Munar has recently made breakthroughs on hard courts. This year at the US Open, he won three matches to reach his first Grand Slam fourth round, and now in Shanghai, he achieved his best result at a hard-court Masters event, demonstrating solid progress in his overall game. Munar’s exceptional resilience and solid baseline style are well supported by the YONEX EZONE 100, which provides him with powerful and stable shots to sustain his multi-shot rallies.

The tennis story in Shanghai has come to a pause, but the energy of the tournament quickly transforms into a shared memory for the entire city. The end of this event marks the beginning of new expectations. From Shanghai, players will continue their journeys across the world’s courts, fully committed to pursuing the same dream.

(Written and edited by Wang Fei, photos by Li Jianyi and Huang Shangyue)