In one of the most remarkable stories in modern tennis history, Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot defeated his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in a well-played final at the Shanghai Masters 1000 on Sunday to capture his first ATP Tour title.
The World No. 204 (!) rallied from a set down to beat his former college teammate 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, completing a sensational week that saw him become the lowest-ranked player to ever win an ATP Masters 1000 event. Vacherot is also just the third qualifier to win a title at this elite level.
Vacherot’s incredible journey saw him battle through qualifying and then defeat established stars such as Bublik, Machac, Griekspoor and Holger Rune. And of course a stunning semi-final victory over four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic. His resilience and momontum was once again on full display in the final, as he fought back after dropping the first set in the all-unseeded, ‘family affair’ championship match.
The moment Valentin Vacherot became the 1st man from Monaco to win a Masters singles title
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 12, 2025
From alternate to qualifier to beating Bublik, Rune, & Djokovic… to hugging his own cousin at the very end
One of the best sports stories you’ll ever hear
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The Monegasque player, who entered the tournament with just one tour-level win to his name, is projected to soar 164 spots to a new career-high ranking of World number 40, securing his first-ever spot inside the Top 100.
“I don’t think even one person in our family dreamt about this,” Vacherot’s cousin Rinderknech had said before the final. Now, Vacherot’s dream has become a reality, marking an unforgettable moment for the 26-year-old and for the history books of tennis.
More on Vacherot and his racquet.
