Novak Djokovic Experiences Something He Hasn’t in 15 Years — He Finally Speaks Out

Novak Djokovic’s story in Shanghai has been nothing short of dramatic. The Serbian’s loss to Monaco’s world No. 204 player is one of the biggest shocks of the season, made even tougher by the fact that Djokovic was struggling with serious health issues. Many fans expected an outburst of frustration, but the star handled the situation with class. “This is your moment,” Djokovic told Valentin Vacherot, even sending him a message in French. Earlier, he also addressed Asian fans with a few words in Chinese.

For the 26-year-old player from Monaco, this is one of the greatest triumphs of his career. Vacherot defeated Djokovic 6–3, 6–4, earning a spot in the Shanghai final. The Serbian star had to take multiple medical timeouts and painkillers during the match. Photos from the encounter tell the full story — his elimination was the biggest, but not the only, surprise in China.

This is the second time this season that Djokovic has lost to a player ranked outside the world’s top 200. It’s the first time in 15 years such a thing has happened. Back in 2010, he lost to Filip Krajinovic, who was then ranked No. 319. On the same day, Daniil Medvedev was also knocked out of the tournament.

Djokovic’s Painful Defeat — But a Classy Reaction

Despite the pain and humiliation of losing to the world No. 204, Djokovic’s reaction earned admiration. In his post-match message, he began by thanking the fans and organizers of the tournament.

“Shanghai, you’ll always have my heart,” he wrote in English, adding in Chinese, “Thank you for everything you’ve done.” He also took a moment to congratulate his opponent:

“And Valentin Vacherot — this is your moment. You played amazingly, and Monaco is proud of you.” He finished with “Bonne chance pour la finale,” which means “Good luck in the final” in French — his opponent’s native language.

Right after the match, even experts doubted Djokovic would be able to swallow such a bitter pill. “He was beaten in 90 minutes by a player ranked outside the top 200. It’s hard to believe this defeat won’t be a major blow for him,” wrote journalist Dandan Gallagher.