"It's science fiction": Khachanov on Shanghai final

It's rare for the tennis world to witness such an improbable scenario as the one that unfolded in Shanghai. The Chinese Masters 1000 delivered a final that came out of nowhere: Valentin Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world, triumphed over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, his own cousin.

An unprecedented victory that didn't fail to draw a reaction from Karen Khachanov, currently the number 1 seed in the Almaty draw in Kazakhstan. On the eve of his own tournament debut, the Russian spoke candidly about this extraordinary final.

"This kind of scenario is magnificent for tennis. Two cousins in the final - it's science fiction. From a sponsor's perspective, we were expecting the headline players. And this final was clearly unexpected. But we should never underestimate these players. When you look at who they beat, you realize their level is there. They earned their place. Those who win should never be judged."

The message is clear: just because a player is outside the top 100 doesn't mean they're not capable of extraordinary feats. Vacherot's week is living proof.