The dream came true: Vacherot defied logic and became Shanghai champion

ByDavid Mitchell
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Valentin Vacherot is the champion of the Shanghai Masters 1000! From entering the qualy thanks to a last-minute loss to become the first Monegasque in history to win a title on the most demanding circuit in the world, defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech (54th) in the grand final by 4-6, 6-3 and 6-3 in 2h 44min of action.

Late in the afternoon on Asian soil, the lights of the impressive Qizhong Stadium came on and the public welcomed its protagonists with open arms: Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech. They reached the second-to-last Masters 1000 in 2025 in the shadow of great favorites like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, but tennis, as unpredictable as it is wonderful, had other plans prepared.

They battled against the best in the world, overcame climatic adversities, and turned the grand final into a kind of home ceremony: from cousins ​​to rivals but highly aware that, at this point in their careers, the sport consecrated them champions in advance.

The 30-year-old Frenchman, with considerable experience within the ATP Tour compared to his rival, showed from the beginning of the match a security that was transferred to the numerical with high effectiveness from his serve, without granting break chances, and taking advantage of the only one that appeared on the other side of the net to win the first set without too many setbacks.

But, minutes later, a different story began. The 26-year-old Monegasque came out decisively in the important moments, took advantage of the doubts of someone who, until moments ago, had the lead and control of the match, and equalized the score.

Finally, taking control of the match, he fought his way to glory with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Rinderknech to become the first tennis player from Monaco to win a title on the most demanding circuit in the world.

It is the fifth tennis player in history to debut his record with a Masters 1000 behind Roberto Carretero (1996), Chris Woodruff (1997), Albert Portas (2001) and Jakub Mensik (2025). Located in 204th place at the time of his consecration, he entered history as the lowest ranked player to lift a title of such magnitudedisplacing the Croatian Borna Coric (152nd in Cincinnati 2022).

All the action of the Shanghai Masters 1000 can be followed, live and exclusively, on Disney+ Premium Plan.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.