ATP Tour
Vacherot, Bublik wins amongst largest ATP Tour upsets of 2025
Atmane, Van de Zandschulp, Goffin additionally function in Prime 5 checklist
November 29, 2025
Lintao Zhang/Getty Photographs
Valentin Vacherot defeats Novak Djokovic in straight units on the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
By Jerome Coombe
To mark the top of one other thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Best Of’ series, which can mirror on probably the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and extra. In the present day we spotlight 5 standout ATP Tour upsets (not together with Grand Slams) from this season.
Shocks are a part of the ATP Tour’s DNA, however each season brings a handful that reshape the storylines of the yr.
In 2025, there have been upsets that shifted momentum, launched careers and, at occasions, left stadiums shocked into silence. Right here, ATPTour.com counts down the 5 most shocking ATP Tour upsets of the yr.
5) Halle, R2: Bublik d. Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Solely twice in 2025 did Jannik Sinner fall earlier than the ultimate of an occasion, and a type of uncommon stumbles got here courtesy of an impressed Alexander Bublik on the slick lawns on the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle.
Simply two weeks after profitable solely six video games in a humbling loss to then-World No. 1 Sinner at Roland Garros, Bublik returned along with his unpredictable magic dialled all the best way up. On a floor made for his improvisation, the Kazakhstani lit up the ATP 500 occasion with 36 winners and a fearless mixture of contact and energy, incomes his first victory over a No. 1 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings and snapping Sinner’s 66-match profitable streak towards gamers exterior the Prime 20.
“We’re tennis gamers and we attempt to win each match we play however it’s a particular one,” Bublik mentioned after toppling the defending Halle champion. “I had by no means overwhelmed a No. 1 on the planet. It’s an accomplishment. I stored serving. I attempted to be clutch. He’s an unbelievable participant and I used to be not pondering that I may beat him.”
Bublik carried that momentum all the best way to the Halle title — his first trophy of a four-title, career-best season that finally lifted him to a career-high World No. 11. Sinner, in the meantime, rebounded in true champion trend, turning the frustration into gas for his maiden Wimbledon triumph three weeks later.
4) Cincinnati R4: Atmane d. Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Terence Atmane arrived on the Cincinnati Open with a 1-4 tour-level report for the season and left as one in all its breakout surprises. Competing because the World No. 136, the French qualifier shocked fourth seed and residential favorite Taylor Fritz — one of many ATP Tour’s hottest gamers over the summer season — to achieve his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
In opposition to a totally in-form Fritz, who had piled up a Tour-leading 13 grass-court wins and reached the Toronto semi-finals the week prior, Atmane refused to be intimidated. He matched the American’s heavy serving blow for blow, firing 13 aces and profitable 82 per cent of first-serve factors, based on Infosys ATP Stats.
Atmane’s disbelief was evident as he tossed his racquet skyward after placing a drive-volley winner to seal the most important win of his profession. Within the quarter-finals, the 23-year-old downed his second Prime 10 participant of the week, Holger Rune, earlier than falling to Sinner within the final 4.
“What every week. What every week, I’ve to say,” mentioned Atmane, who cracked the Prime 100 for the primary time. “I’m so comfortable that lastly my work is paying off. However as I mentioned with my coach, that is only a event and I have to repeat this type of stage each single week every day to be at their spot.”
3) Indian Wells R2: Van de Zandschulp d. Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Some gamers hope for attracts that assist them settle in; Botic van de Zandschulp is turning into somebody who appears to desire the alternative. Already identified for toppling Carlos Alcaraz on the 2024 US Open, the Dutchman added one other big to his checklist by defeating five-time Indian Wells champion Novak Djokovic on the BNP Paribas Open.
Coming into the principle draw as a fortunate loser, Van de Zandschulp took full benefit. After an uncharacteristically error-strewn opening set, Djokovic started to rediscover his rhythm, however the Dutchman weathered the storm with distinctive scrambling and well timed aggression. His decisive break for 3-1 within the closing set — wherein he hit two distinctive winners — proved the turning level as he closed out a composed win to stage their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection at 1-1.
“Once I mirror on this match, clearly I will see just a little bit extra about what I may have completed extra, however… he performed some actually good factors to interrupt my serve,” Djokovic admitted. “However simply placing myself in that place, I should not permit myself to do this.”
It was Van de Zandschulp’s first set of back-to-back victories all season, and his eighth profession victory over a Prime 10 participant. It concurrently handed Djokovic his first three-match shedding streak since 2018.
2) Miami R2: Goffin d. Alcaraz 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
David Goffin’s profession has all the time carried a quiet hazard. Even when struggling, he can summon the classic type that he as soon as used towards Roger Federer en path to the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals title match.
On the Miami Open presented by Itau, that model of the Belgian reappeared — and Alcaraz was the one caught within the crossfire. After opening the season with 5 consecutive tour-level defeats, Goffin had rediscovered some traction with a confidence-boosting win over Ben Shelton in Acapulco.
However towards Alcaraz, below the Miami lights, he unearthed the ruthlessness and timing that when made him the World No. 7. The 34-year-old absorbed the Spaniard’s shotmaking and countered with flurries of fresh, biting winners to finish a surprising comeback — his third straight victory over a Prime 3 participant.
“It feels superb. Typically some matches are robust and it’s a must to battle, and also you’re comfortable to have a second spherical like that in a stadium,” mentioned Goffin. “That is why I proceed to play tennis, to have that type of match in a stadium, to play some good tennis. [I was] simply attempting to benefit from the second.”
1) Shanghai SF: Vacherot d. Djokovic 6-3, 6-4
Valentin Vacherot’s breakthrough on the Rolex Shanghai Masters marked the arrival of a brand new contender, and report four-time champion Djokovic himself was powerless to withstand it.
The World No. 204, who got here via qualifying, saved his most full efficiency of a fairytale week for the semi-finals, the place he delivered a peaceful, medical upset over the Serbian. Regardless of Djokovic displaying clear bodily struggles, Vacherot stayed locked in, dictating rallies with rock-solid baseline hitting and laser-sharp serving to assert the most important win of his profession.
It was the continuation of a dream run, which he accomplished by defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech within the closing to turn into the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in historical past. Previous to Shanghai, the Monegasque breakout star had only one ATP Tour win to his identify, however now he was an ATP Tour winner and Prime 50 participant.
“That is simply loopy. To begin with, to simply be on the opposite facet of the courtroom [from Novak] was an unbelievable expertise,” mentioned Vacherot, who catapulted 164 spots to No. 40 within the PIF ATP Rankings following his run. “I believe I’ve acquired a lot to study from this match, from him. Even for myself, I’ve acquired lots to maintain.
“It was an hour and 40 minutes of pure pleasure, though not many individuals wished me to maintain going. He’s actually appreciated right here. He has received 4 occasions. I acquired a bit misplaced in all his titles after they had been asserting him, nevertheless it was an unreal expertise.”
