Valentin Vacherot Shocks in Shanghai: Conquers the Masters and Makes History
In an unforgettable day for tennis, Valentin Vacherot was crowned champion of the Shanghai Masters, achieving the first title of his career after an impressive performance from the qualifying rounds.
Vacherot, who holds the 204th position in the world ranking, defeated his cousin Arthur Rinderknech with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Sunday’s final. This victory makes him the tournament winner with the lowest ranking in the history of the ATP Masters 1000, and also the first tennis player to achieve it representing the small Principality of Monaco.
Vacherot’s performance was truly remarkable.
In the semifinals, he surprised the tennis world by defeating Novak Djokovic, champion of 24 Grand Slam titles, thus securing his place in the final against Rinderknech.
In the third set, Vacherot demonstrated his prowess with impeccable serving, achieving three consecutive love games and adding 15 points in a row, before conceding a point due to an unforced error in the eighth game.
Rinderknech, in an attempt to stay in the match, saved a match point, but Vacherot, with a powerful forehand, secured the victory.
Vacherot was overcome with emotion, reacting with disbelief and embracing his cousin on the net, before celebrating with his team and his coach Benjamin Balleret, who is also his half-brother and former tennis player.
In 2006, Balleret had a highlight of his career by facing Roger Federer at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Nineteen years later, Federer watched from the stands in Shanghai as Rinderknech took the first set.
Vacherot managed an early break in the decisive set, but wasted four break opportunities in the fifth game, giving Rinderknech a breather. The Frenchman requested a medical timeout to receive treatment on his back and shoulder.
Despite the efforts, Rinderknech could not stop his cousin’s momentum.
It should be noted that, before this match, they had never faced each other on the professional circuit. Their only previous match was in a futures tournament in 2018, where Rinderknech was victorious.
