Valentin Vacherot Shocks at the Shanghai Masters
In a performance that will be etched in the memory of tennis fans, Valentin Vacherot conquered the Shanghai Masters title, overcoming his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in an exciting match that culminated in a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The tennis player, currently ranked 204th in the world, achieved a historic feat by becoming the champion with the lowest ranking in the history of the ATP Masters 1000. Furthermore, this triumph represents the first title for the Principality of Monaco in this prestigious tournament. Vacherot demonstrated an exceptional level of play throughout the tournament, highlighting his victory in the semifinals against Novak Djokovic, an achievement that opened the doors to the final against Rinderknech.The final match was a display of skill and determination by Vacherot, who showed relentless serving in the third set, stringing together three consecutive blank games and adding 15 points in a row. Despite Rinderknech managing to save a match point, Vacherot did not yield and sealed the victory with a powerful forehand.
Valentin Vacherot was incredulous after securing the victory, celebrating with his team and sharing an emotional hug with his coach and half-brother, Benjamin Balleret. The final was attended by Roger Federer, who witnessed the first set won by Rinderknech. Vacherot, after achieving an early break in the decisive set, faced moments of tension, including a medical timeout requested by Rinderknech. This match marked the first encounter between the two on the professional circuit, with a previous record favoring Rinderknech in a Futures tournament in 2018.
