Vacherot, world No. 204, becomes the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 title
Valentin Vacherot won the Shanghai Masters 1000 on Sunday, defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-3).
Valentin Vacherot, Shanghai 2025 | © Andy Wong/AP/SIPA
There had to be a winner, and it was Valentin Vacherot who added his name to the list of champions at the Shanghai Masters 1000. The Monegasque player won the final of the Chinese tournament against his cousin Arthur Rinderknech after another hard-fought three-set battle (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). Ranked 204th in the world, he became the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 title.
After taking a photo at the net that will go down in the history of both tennis and the Rinderknech–Vacherot family, the two men began the most important match of their careers. Better ranked and more experienced, the Frenchman, world No. 54, showed an excellent level of play from the start against a more hesitant Vacherot.
Arthur Rinderknech earned the only break point of the first set in the third game and managed to convert it to take control of the final. Very solid on serve, losing only five points in the opening set, the Frenchman did not give his cousin the slightest chance to come back. Valentin Vacherot hit only seven winners in that set, half as many as his opponent.
The second set was much tighter between the two players. The Monegasque raised his level to match the Frenchman. Vacherot earned his very first break point at 4-3 after an hour and thirteen minutes of play, but Rinderknech saved it with an ace out wide. The second opportunity proved decisive for the world No. 204, who broke with a superb down-the-line backhand winner. He then held serve without faltering to level the match at one set all.
Today there are two winners — the family won
Valentin Vacherot took full control in the third and final set. Fitter physically, he broke Rinderknech to lead 2-0 and then had several chances to break again. But the Frenchman, who received treatment for his back at 2-3, fought hard to keep the suspense alive. At 5-3, on a final forehand passing shot winner, the Monegasque was able to celebrate the biggest victory of his career.
“It’s unreal! I’m dreaming, it’s crazy. I’m so happy with the level of tennis I’ve shown over the past few weeks. Today there are two winners — the family won. I wish we could share the victory, but unfortunately that’s not possible. I tried to put aside the fact that he’s my cousin; it wasn’t easy. He played better than me in the first set, but I found a way to turn things around.”
Valentin Vacherot is now stepping into a new dimension. Ranked 204th in the world before the start of the tournament, he will make a huge leap of 164 spots to reach No. 40 in the next ATP rankings.
