World No 204 stuns Holger Rune to make Shanghai Masters history

World No 204 Valentin Vacherot stunned Holger Rune to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, becoming the lowest-ranked player to advance to the semi-finals of an ATP 1000 event in 26 years.

Qualifier Vacherot, 26, defeated the World No 11 Rune 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, converting his third match point to become the first player representing Monaco to reach an ATP Tour semi-final.

He collapsed onto the court after prevailing in more than two-and-a-half hours, and could play Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals if the 38-year-old defeats Zizou Bergs.

Both Vacherot and Rune struggled in the brutal heat and humidity in Shanghai, with Vacherot also battling painful blisters on his right foot.

After already beating Alexander Bublik, Tomas Machac and Tallon Griekspoor this week, Vacherot has now beaten four top-32 players to become the first qualifier to reach the Shanghai semi-finals in tournament history.

Vacherot could yet be joined in the semi-finals by his cousin, the French player Arthur Rinderkneck, who will look to back up his win over Alexander Zverev when he takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday.

Vacherot is the lowest-ranked player to reach an ATP 1000 semi-final since Chris Woodruff made the Indian Wells sem-finals as the World 555 in 1999.

Vacherot is the second-lowest ranked player in ATP history to reach the semi-finals of a Masters tournament and the result will see him enter the world’s top 100 for the first time.