Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a 41st ATP Masters 1000 title in Shanghai was brought to a halt in the semifinals.
In straight sets, Djokovic was beaten by Valentin Vacherot, a Monegasque qualifier ranked 204th in the world.
The Serb just about made it to the end of the match, having looked visibly injured for the majority of the contest, and receiving medical treatment between games.
Despite his best efforts in the second set, it was not to be for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who lost 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 42 minutes.
Novak Djokovic tells Valentin Vacherot this is his moment
With his triumph over Djokovic, Vacherot became the lowest-ranked player ever to reach the final of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
He will play his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in the championship match, as he seeks to clinch a maiden tour-level title.
In a post on Instagram, Djokovic sent a message to his conqueror ahead of his final showdown with Rinderknech
He said: “Shanghai, you will always have my heart, and @valvacherot, this is your moment. You played unbelievably and have made Monaco proud. Bonne chance pour la finale.”
Novak Djokovic’s plans after exiting the Shanghai Masters
After his semifinal exit, Djokovic will now travel to Saudi Arabia for the Six Kings exhibition event, where he will be joined by other big stars, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Then, he has confirmed he will feature in the new-look ATP 250 event in Athens, which will take place in early November.
Djokovic is in a fantastic position to qualify for the ATP Finals, and he will more than likely have enough points to book his place in the year-end tournament, though he has not yet confirmed whether he will appear in Turin.
The 38-year-old has made it clear that Grand Slams are his priority in the twilight of his career, and he will now set his sights on the Australian Open in January.
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