World No. 204 rallies past cousin Rinderknech to claim lowest-ranked Masters 1000 title in history.
Valentin Vacherot etched his name in tennis history on Sunday, overcoming his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to capture the Shanghai Masters title in one of the most improbable championship runs ever witnessed at the ATP Masters 1000 level.
The 26-year-old from Monaco entered the tournament as the 22nd alternate in qualifying and left China as the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion since the series began in 1990, surpassing Borna Coric’s previous mark set at world No. 152. Vacherot’s prize money of $1,124,380 nearly doubles his entire career earnings to date.
The Shanghai final marked tennis’s first family affair at this level since John McEnroe defeated brother Patrick at the 1991 Chicago Open, adding emotional weight to an already historic occasion. Both cousins struggled to contain their emotions during the post-match ceremony, with Rinderknech tumbling off the stage as Vacherot delivered his victory speech.
“It is unreal what just happened—I have no idea what is happening right now,” said Vacherot, who wrote “Grandpa and Grandma would be proud” on a courtside camera following tradition. “There has to be one loser, but I think there are two winners today. One family won, and for tennis, this story is unreal”.
Vacherot’s path to glory included statement victories over world No. 11 Holger Rune and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, whom he defeated in the semifinals. The run represents the Monegasque’s sixth comeback from a set down in nine matches during the tournament.
Rinderknech opened strongly in the final, breaking serve early and controlling play to claim the first set. But Vacherot raised his level dramatically in the second, executing a brilliant backhand down the line to break at 5-3 before forcing a decider. The third set belonged entirely to the underdog, who struck just one unforced error while winning 92 percent of first-serve points.
The 30-year-old Rinderknech, who will rise to a career-high No. 28, needed medical treatment for back issues late in the match but fought valiantly until the end. “Valentin, you gave everything. I’m so happy for you. Two cousins are stronger than one,” Rinderknech said through tears.
Both players were teammates at Texas A&M University between 2016 and 2018, supporting each other throughout the fortnight in Shanghai and celebrating together after each victory. Vacherot’s coach, Benjamin Balleret, is his half-brother and Rinderknech’s cousin, deepening the family ties surrounding this fairytale triumph.
With the victory, Vacherot becomes Monaco’s first-ever ATP Tour singles champion in the Open Era and will crack the top 40 when rankings are updated Monday—a leap of 164 spots. He joins an exclusive group as just the third qualifier to win a Masters 1000 title, following Spaniards Roberto Carretero and Albert Portas.
Tennis legend Roger Federer watched from the front row as the cousins made history under Shanghai’s bright lights, providing the perfect witness to a tournament that defied all expectations.
