WATCH: 'F**k you guys!': Holger Rune rages at his team during Shanghai loss

Holger Rune's dramatic battle against Valentin Vacherot at the 2025 Shanghai Masters included the Dane launching an angry tirade at those supporting him in the stands.

Rune looked set for a place in the semifinals when he took the opening set 6-2. Since qualifying, Vacherot had won six matches, including four in the deciding set, and it seemed like he was out of steam after those efforts.

Instead, the Frenchman dramatically battled back. He took the second set on a tiebreak before winning the decider 6-4 to continue one of the most unexpected and memorable runs of the 2025 season.

Rune has developed a reputation for petulant behavior since he emerged on the ATP Tour a few years ago as a teenager, but he had improved that during the last 12 months, showing maturity.

Unfortunately, the 22-year-old slipped back into old habits with an unexpected rant at his team when competing against Vacherot. The score stood at 3-3, 0-30 in the deciding set when he began directing heated words at them.

Rune was already frustrated when he asked them what to do. One of them responded by telling him to keep hitting with the right length. The 2022 Paris Masters champion received a time violation for going over the shot clock while having that conversation.

Those words did not help Rune. He tamely hit a backhand into the net to slip three break points down, and his anger at that point reached a boiling point, leaving the fans inside the stadium gasping.

Rune aggressively shouted "f**k you guys" and then threw a ball against the back fence. Rightly or wrongly, the umpire did not take any action against him for a very audible obscenity that was impossible to miss.

Marco Panichi, Jannik Sinner's fitness coach for nine months until June, is among Rune's team. The Dane's actions are in stark contrast to Sinner's, with the Italian being one of the calmest players in tennis.

However, Panichi experienced multiple instances of fiery behavior during his lengthy stint as Novak Djokovic's fitness coach. Of course, the Serbian's achievements and how he used those outbursts positively contrast sharply with Rune's.

Djokovic's words, even when directed angrily at his team, do not tend to be so directly abusive either. Whether Panichi or someone else had a few harsh words with Rune after his outburst is unknown.

Although he holds the record for Masters 1000 titles won, Djokovic's last at that level was almost two years ago at the 2023 Paris Masters. His final run at the 2024 iteration in Shanghai is as close as he has come since.

Vacherot's exceptional tournament means his chances against Djokovic in the semifinal should not be ruled out. Nonetheless, the tennis legend is undoubtedly the favorite against his less experienced opponent.

If Djokovic defeats Vacherot, he is guaranteed not to face Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, significantly enhancing his chances of winning the title. The Serbian's biggest obstacle might be the brutal conditions, which made him vomit twice in a previous round.