In a stunning underdog story at the Shanghai Masters, world No. 204 qualifier Valentin Vacherot toppled cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday to claim his first ATP title and become Monaco's first ATP Tour champion.
The all-family final, featuring 54th-ranked Rinderknech of France and Vacherot of Monaco, was a rare spectacle: just the third ATP Masters 1000 final ever contested by two unseeded players. Coached by his half-brother Benjamin Balleret, who called the result a “fairytale”, Vacherot wrote new history as the lowest-ranked champion in Masters 1000 competition.
After dropping the first set with three early errors, Vacherot steadied himself in front of an enthusiastic crowd, which even included tennis legend Roger Federer. He turned the match around with a break in game eight of the second set, then seized the decider with two early breaks, overcoming the humidity and his opponent's resilient defense.
Rinderknech, who received on-court treatment midway through the decider, mounted a brief comeback but couldn't withstand Vacherot's late charge. The victor dropped to his knees in disbelief as he sealed a 6-3 breaker in the ninth game, cementing his place in tennis lore.
Vacherot's journey from qualifier to champion, undefeated since the first round of qualifying, is a testament to the power of belief and persistence. His triumph offers fresh inspiration to players and fans worldwide, proving that rankings are just numbers when grit and family pride are on the line.
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World No. 204 Vacherot tops cousin Rinderknech to win Shanghai Masters
cgtn.com
