Arthur Rinderknech has just taken an unbelievable turn! The French tennis athlete, who entered the event without a seed, conquered Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Shanghai Masters by a score of 6-3, 6-4 and it took him only 87 minutes to get the job done. This victory was a turning point for Rinderknech as he advanced to the Masters 1000 semifinal for the first time in his career.
Auger-Aliassime was the underdog with a 13th world ranking before this match. He had been great throughout the tournament, losing only one service game before his encounter with Rinderknech. But the atmosphere on the court turned so quickly as though no one had expected it.
How Rinderknech Got the Job Done
The 30-year-old Frenchman performed smart, aggressive tennis from start to finish. Here’s what made the difference:
- Rinderknech converted both break points he got, taking one in each set
- He defended all three break points against him, which kept Auger-Aliassime from finding any rhythm
- His first serve was on fire — he claimed 85 percent of those points
- The Frenchman only dropped 12 points on his entire serve during the match
That first set unfolded like a movie and showed everyone what was about to come. Rinderknech had hit nine clean fantasies that were just out of the reach of his opponent and he made only three errors. Auger-Aliassime had command over the game having a 40-15 lead in the sixth game, but at that very moment, everything collapsed. He made a double fault, then he made some errors with his forehand and suddenly Rinderknech had a break point. The Frenchman evenly hit a forehand pass right along the line to seize the break.
The Second Set Sealed the Deal
Rinderknech made an immediate impact in the second set. He won Auger-Aliassime’s service in the first game itself thereby gaining an early advantage. The Canadian was given one actual opportunity to get back into the match when he went up 40-0 in the fourth game. These were his initial break points of the day.
But this was the point where it started becoming hard for Auger-Aliassime. He failed three times consecutively with his forehand, while two were on his returns and he couldn’t take the advantage. After this incidence, Rinderknech tightened up his game. The Frenchman won 17 out of his next 18 service points from that 40-0 deficit. Auger-Aliassime was never granted another opportunity.
For those who keep track of tennis matches online, sites like Kheloexch have been closely monitoring this tournament, and the result has caught everyone’s attention. The underdog victory only made the already remarkable week in Shanghai more memorable.
The Bigger Picture
It wasn’t merely the case of one match. Rinderknech had already, prior to this, eliminated the world’s number three Alexander Zverev, and the 19th ranked Jiri Lehecka. One might say he had actually defeated three top-20 athletes in a row, and this does not seem bad at all considering that he was coming from the 54th rank when the tournament began.
The Frenchman’s victory put him at the 37th position in the live ranking, thus he was getting closer and closer to a career-high rank. He was only the third Frenchman ever to make it to the semis in Shanghai, alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon. Medvedev was going to be his opponent next.
Additionally, there is an interesting family anecdote involved here. Rinderknech’s cousin, Valentin Vacherot, reached the semi-finals as well. After Rinderknech had cracked the serving barrier to get to 6-3, he pointed directly to Vacherot, who was in his box. The two cousins were experiencing their best tournament ever together.
What Went Wrong for Auger-Aliassime
The Canadian athlete was at a loss for ways to score points when it really mattered. He put down three double faults, all in the first set, which surely didn’t help his case. He did, however, get to hit eight aces, but still only got 64 percent of his first-serve points while Rinderknech got 83 percent.
Auger-Aliassime entered this game 2-0 against Rinderknech, having prevailed over him already twice in 2025. That history was of no importance in this match. When one fails to capitalize on the opportunities created and the other continually benefits from the errors, the score tells the tale.
For those who were following the match on Kheloexch and similar channels, it was one of the most discussed results of the tournament. Rinderknech’s exit indicated that rankings do not always reflect the actual situation. He delivered his best tennis at the most critical moment and did not allow the occasion to overwhelm him.
The Frenchman remained calm throughout the game but expressed his feelings afterwards. He lifted his arms in triumph and gazed at his cousin who would be competing against Novak Djokovic the next day. The entire family back in their hometown was watching, and Rinderknech said they were all in their own bubble after what he and his cousin had done together.
