Valentin Vacherot Shocks at the Shanghai Masters
In a performance that has left everyone speechless, Valentin Vacherot was crowned champion of the Shanghai Masters, after defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This triumph marks the first title in the tennis player’s career, who starred in an impressive comeback from the qualifying rounds.
Vacherot, ranked 204th, has made history by becoming 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 this feat.
The path to the title was remarkable. In the semifinals, Vacherot surprised Novak Djokovic himself, champion of 24 Grand Slams, opening the way for a final against Rinderknech, 30 years old. Rinderknech, for his part, had defeated Daniil Medvedev, finalist of four major tournaments and US Open champion in 2021, in a memorable semifinal.
In the decisive set, Vacherot demonstrated his dominance with the serve, achieving three consecutive games to love and accumulating 15 straight points before conceding a point due to an unforced error.
With Rinderknech trying to stay in the match from 15-40, he saved a match point, but Vacherot unsettled him with a powerful forehand that secured the victory.
Visibly emotional, Vacherot put his hands to his face before hugging his cousin and running to celebrate with his team, including his coach and half-brother, Benjamin Balleret.
In the past, Balleret was defeated by Roger Federer in the early rounds of the Monte Carlo Masters in 2006.
Rinderknech won the first set thanks to an ace. Vacherot got an early break in the final set and then wasted four break opportunities in the fifth game, which gave Rinderknech a breather. The Frenchman immediately requested a three-minute medical timeout to receive treatment on his back and left shoulder.
Before this match, both players had not faced each other on the professional circuit, although Rinderknech won their only encounter in a future tournament in 2018.
