October 13th
For those who missed it, here’s a breakdown of the top storylines in the world of tennis over the past week. From fairytale endings, to returning stars, we look at everything that went down on and off the court on the ATP and WTA Tours.
Champions’ corner
Both tours saw 1000-level events conclude on the weekend, with the ATP Tour in Shanghai and the WTA Tour just inland in Wuhan. Here’s how each unfolded:
- Shanghai Masters – Valentin Vacherot beat Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
- Wuhan Open – Coco Gauff beat Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5
It was a weekend of friendly finals, with Gauff prevailing over doubles partner and compatriot Pegula, while Vacherot and Rinderknech are cousins.
Vacherot writes history
Vacherot’s run was one of the most remarkable in ATP Tour history, with the Monacan becoming the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 winner in history. Ranked No 204 coming into the tournament, Vacherot wasn’t even in the main draw of qualifying. He received entry last-minute as an alternate, and took full advantage, winning eight matches in a row to claim the title.
Not only was his run the best-ever by a Monacan tennis player, but it came in dramatic fashion. In six of his eight matches – including the final – Vacherot dropped the opening set. With the victory, he rockets up to No 40 in the world and doubles his career prize money.
From ninth alternate to CHAMPION ?
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 12, 2025
How @valvacherot won the 2025 Shanghai title ????#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/3kwot17vuD
Gauff surges back
It’s been a challenging few months for Gauff after winning the French Open in early June. The American was winless on grass, and also took tough losses to Victoria Mboko, Naomi Osaka and Jasmine Paolini as she went titleless across the North American hardcourt swing. Last week, she won just three games in defeat to Amanda Anisimova to begin her Asaian swing.
But the 21-year-old surged back into the winners’ circle on the weekend, gaining revenge on Paolini and seeing off Pegula in straight sets to claim her second title of the year. Pegula had been in fine form too, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak in Wuhan in the semi-finals.
Djokovic shows remarkable fight
While Novak Djokovic couldn’t work his way into the champions’ corner this week, the Serbian showed incredible heart in his Shanghai efforts.
With nothing to prove to anyone, the 38-year-old defied multiple injuries and searing heat to eke his way into the semi-finals, becoming the oldest man to do so. On more than one occasion the 24-time Grand Slam champion vomited on court and collapsed from exhaustion, but refused to give up.
Turns out the old dog has plenty of fight left in him – though, the old was very evident last week as his body continued to fail him late in tournaments.
Hip injury flares up for De Minaur
Alex de Minaur has had an old hip injury flare up over the weekend, with the Australian withdrawing from UTS Hong Kong as a result. The 26-year-old was due to compete in the event this week, but released a message to fans late on Sunday explaining that the injury he suffered last year has made movement too painful. He hopes to return to tennis in time to compete at the ATP Finals, which he is looking good to qualify for.
Federer returns, teases more appearances
Tennis fans had a blast from the past in Shanghai, with former world No 1 Roger Federer returning for an exhibition match.
The Swiss took to the court to take on several Chinese celebrities in a doubles match on quarter-finals day in Shanghai.
“I’ve been trying to keep in good shape,” Federer said afterwards, before teasing his next move.
“I know that Rafa is also totally open to maybe play some tennis. It sounds terrible, ‘seniors tennis,’ to us, but maybe we can create a tour, like a ‘Fedal Tour’ or something like that. It would be cool.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why I started the Laver Cup, to shine a light on the past greats of the game. Maybe with a seniors tour, we’ve had a little of that in tennis…but there’s a lot of appetite for seeing past champions in tennis, as well. I could maybe look into that with Rafa, for sure.”
With Federer looking fantastic on court – and hardly seeming to have aged a day – we’d be all for a Fedal tour.
Coming up this week
On the ATP Tour, tennis shifts from Asia to the indoor swing. There are a trio of ATP 250s in Almaty, Brussels and Stockholm this week, before a pair of ATP 500s the week after. None of the top five will be in action, but there are crucial points on the line for those looking to secure Turin qualification.
The bigger names will be off chasing money in Saudi Arabia, with the return of the Six Kings Slam this week. Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas will be in action from 15-18 October, with a whopping $13.5 million on the line.
For the women, the WTA Tour remains in Asia for the Japan Open WTA 250 and Ningbo Open WTA 500. Osaka headlines the former, while the likes of Mirra Andreeva, Paolini and Elena Rybakina will feature in the latter.
