Top 30 ATP player retires for the fifth time this year as his opponent makes history for his country in Shanghai

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It is getting to that stage of the season where players are really starting to struggle physically.

That feels even more relevant at the moment, with players including Carlos Alcaraz criticising the tennis schedule.

There are also players on both tours that have already called it a day in 2025, with Paula Badosa one of many players ending their seasons early.

Now, an ATP player has been forced to retire for the fifth time in the 2025 season at the Shanghai Masters.

Tomas Machac retires for the fifth time in 2025 and hands history to Monaco

Tomas Machac won his first ATP title earlier this year, and reached a career-high ranking of world number 20.

The Czech is still ranked at world number 23 now, but has struggled to find the same consistency since winning the Mexican Open back in February.

A big factor in this is the amount of injuries he has needed to deal with, having retired from four matches already leading into the Shanghai Masters.

Machac reached the Shanghai Masters semifinals in 2024, and therefore had big pressure on him to defend those ranking points.

The 24-year-old won his first match, but came unstuck against Monegasque Valentin Vacherot, with Machac being forced to retire due to a knee issue after losing nine of the first 10 games.

As a result, Machac will now drop 350 ranking points and is at risk of falling outside the top 30.

While Vacherot, has continued his incredible run from qualifying and has now become the second player from Monaco to reach the last-16 at a Masters 1000 tournament.

Is Valentin Vacherot the highest ranked singles player from Monaco in history?

Vacherot has beaten Alexander Bublik and Machac to reach the last-16 at the Shanghai Masters, but he is actually not the highest ranked ATP player from Monaco in history.

That honor is currently held by Jean-Rene Lisnard, who reached a highest ranking of world number 109 after switching from France to Monaco in 2006.

Vacherot’s career-high ranking is just one place below that at world number 110, but he is currently outside the top 200.

However, after enjoying a breakthrough run in Shanghai, Vacherot has now climbed up to a live ranking of world number 153.

Vacherot will look to continue climbing the rankings, but he may have Jannik Sinner standing in his way of doing so.