When Valentin Vacherot STUNNED Novak Djokovic in Shanghai 😱 | All Key Points

We'll let the man from Monaco continue his run. He will kick off the first of the semi-finals. How often we speak about settling into a match, those opening two service games. That's what we'll be erasing. He got a PRT. Helped him when he was young, didn't he? When he was about 17. Caught positionally. Just what the doctor would have ordered if Fecherer can break back here. That was a slightly odd shot selection from Djokovic, wasn't it? Off the drop-up. Better professional player than Rinderknecht. It's brilliant. You see, based on their college careers, Nick, Fecherer was very good from the beginning, whereas it took Arthur a lot longer. Impressive. And especially of late. Yeah, Fecherer left Texas A&M in 2021. Excellent couple of games. His first service firing early here. It's been so fundamental to his success. Once again, proving that he can hit his spots better than anybody. Points a little bit shorter. And a sign for it. Good game. Winter day. We're also moving back up to number four in the world rankings. The most irrelevant ready form at this stage of his career, but it's a very good finish of a low ball. And against Bublik, he came in 27 times. So there's intent there. He's done a really good job of just somehow making the return into play. There's nothing he can't do. Here's the backhand slice. We've seen the backhand topspin at the last minute. You think he's going to hit the topspin, but he doesn't. And of course, that's not his popular spot, as he's been able to achieve here. It's a wonderful finish. And he has very much settled in nicely to this biggest day of this man's career. Look at him, Basheros. Career prize money is 594,000 and some change. It's a good finish. That's the shot we talked about this week. That has been so potent. Just a little too much pressure. Basheros trying to take the second serve on the lies, but ended up just taking a little bit of his own time away off the return. It's just the fact that he stretches all day long wherever he is. He's watching television. Normally sitting on the floor stretching. When he's in and around the kitchen, he's stretching the quads. It's just, it's non-stop. Right now, he's suffering. Djokovic definitely looking hampered right now. What encouragement that must be for Valentin Basheros. Yes, what a strike. Backhand has been causing problems for so many players. His backhand is spectacular. Loves to lean on the line ball. Backhand side, isn't it? Where it's most troubling. Looks as though he just can't rotate. Valentin Basheros. There's a set in the bag in the first semi-final. Novak Djokovic. Looks as though he may continue for now, but for how much longer? Stuck it right back on the baseline. Djokovic not able to recover out of the serve quickly enough. The semis of the Australian Open against Zverev this year, but at Masters 1000, Nick. We've got to go back a long way for a retirement from Djokovic. Pulled a ripcord. Often have we seen that serve, that second serve. And of course, that's Maven, Steph Trudell, just reminding us that most of those retirements came early on in his career, didn't they, Nick? Brilliant spread of the court. They're still hanging on to hopes there, man. Just the smallest bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Disparity in the physical conditioning. You've got to be quite strict with the clock now. Because you've got to be fair to Basheros as well, even though Novak is hurting. My point is, Nick, after last week's incident, I'm just wondering if Adele might be a little generous on the serve clock. A few better signs in that rally. Right now, Novak Djokovic. Desperate hope that things can improve for him. He is still in front in the second. That's straight back to Novak. Peripheral vision wasn't sharp. Even after Novak hit that, he knew it was a terrible drop shot. He's got away with it. Pose there, though, in the face of some pretty good defence. The man in red. Gets it back in well, doesn't he? One that's high, leans on it. Nice shot. Oh, that's beautifully finished. Djokovic couldn't quite get the pace. All this ends up being a little bit of a monarch-esque magic here. Subtle brilliance. The country club. Yeah. Lions talks a lot now. They used to play in Monte Carlo every year. They used to spend a lot of time with. It's going to be the play. Keep pressing into that backhand corner. Hasn't been scared to do this fortnight. That's come in. Soft hands. Didn't see that coming. I'm not sure that was the best option. Keep him running. I think he's lost the point there. I like the way Valero is looking for that second serve. The quick one down the middle. Wasn't rushed there, though. Quite the opposite. Very good number. Good percentage of the draw. Come through that route. Djokovic clinging on. Once more. To the spot he was looking for. So Valero within two games of victory here. Difference, of course, was he was French-born, wasn't he, Jean-René? Keep himself out there. A few years ago. Oh, it's remarkable. He may be laboring, but he is certainly not raising the white flag just yet. Phenomenal feel from both. A fit response. Exceptional tennis. It was compelling tennis. And it's also commanding tennis. Got to be aware now of that serve down the tee. Well, if he was, he didn't need to reduce anything. Was that a tipping point for Djokovic as he run his race here? He has been on the brink for some time. Vacheron will serve for a place in the final. Penny for the thoughts of Liam Draxler, who's a set up on Vacheron. First round quality. It's aggressive. But two points away from a win of this magnitude. It's so hard not to think about the finish line. What's going on here? Oh, the chequered flag is in sight. That's what's going on. Well, you got to applaud the positivity from Vacheron. Just like that. There's been a serve he has hit consistently. But well again. Antoinette de Mercy holding the hand of this man's girlfriend. One more. Valentin Vacheron scripts another chapter in the story of the tennis season. The utmost respect shared between the pair. The Monegasque becomes the lowest ranked player ever to make the final of a Masters 1000. He wasn't even in the qualifying two and a half weeks ago. And here he is taking his place in tomorrow's showpiece final. It's nothing short of remarkable. Three and four.