Valentin Vacherot Shocks in Shanghai: Conquers the Masters and Makes History
In an epic day for tennis, Valentin Vacherot has achieved an unprecedented feat by winning the Shanghai Masters. The tennis player, coming from the qualifying rounds, defeated his cousin Arthur Rinderknech with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, thus securing the first title of his career.
This triumph is even more remarkable because Vacherot, currently ranked 204th in the world, becomes the winner of a Masters 1000 tournament with the lowest ranking in ATP history. Furthermore, he is the first tennis player from the small principality of Monaco to achieve such a distinction.
Vacherot’s performance was truly impressive.
In the semifinals, Vacherot surprised the world by defeating Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, which allowed him to advance to the final against Rinderknech. The latter, in turn, had overcome Daniil Medvedev, champion of the 2021 US Open, in a memorable semifinal.
In the decisive set, Vacherot demonstrated his dominance with impeccable serving, winning three consecutive games to love and accumulating 15 points in a row. Although Rinderknech saved a match point, Vacherot sealed the victory with a powerful forehand.
After securing the victory, Vacherot expressed his disbelief and joy, sharing an emotional embrace with his cousin and his coach, Benjamin Balleret, who is also his half-brother and a former tennis player.
The match was full of tension. Rinderknech won the first set with an ace. Vacherot managed an early break in the final set and then wasted four break opportunities in the fifth game. Rinderknech requested a medical timeout to receive treatment on his back and shoulder.
Before this match, Vacherot and Rinderknech had only faced each other once on the professional circuit, with Rinderknech winning in a futures tournament in 2018.
