In a dramatic, family-infused finale at the 2025 Shanghai Masters, Valentin Vacherot rallied from a set down to defeat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and claim his maiden ATP Tour title — and in doing so, he made history.
Vacherot, ranked world No. 204, became not only the first Monegasque player to win an ATP singles title, but also the lowest-ranked winner ever at the Masters 1000 level (since the format’s inception). His journey was nothing short of remarkable: coming through qualifying rounds, he toppled seeded opponents along the way, including Holger Rune in the quarterfinals and Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
The final itself was charged with emotion and competitive tension. Rinderknech struck first, taking the opening set 6-4 by capitalizing on a rash of errors from Vacherot. Vacherot steadied himself, and in the second set seized the momentum, breaking Rinderknech and holding serve to force a decider. In the third set, Vacherot proved dominant: he broke early, compiled a string of unbroken serve games (including three straight love holds), and ultimately closed with a forehand down the line.
At one point, Rinderknech took a medical timeout for back treatment, which Vacherot seized on to extend his stranglehold on the match. At match point, a well-placed forehand sealed it, sending the cousins into an emotional embrace at the net.
The significance of this victory is manifold. For Vacherot, it was not just his first ATP title — it came at the highest level, reshaping his career trajectory overnight. His ranking is projected to leap into the top 40, a massive jump from 204. Meanwhile, Rinderknech also reaps rewards: his performance in Shanghai will lift him inside the top 40, having already dispatched players such as Daniil Medvedev en route to the final.
This all-family final was also a rare occurrence on the men’s tour. The last time two relatives contested a final was when John and Patrick McEnroe met in the 1991 Chicago Open. The poetic framing — cousins, rivals, yet bound by blood — added emotional depth to an already sensational result.
Vacherot described the win in raw, emotional terms, saying he was “just crying” and still struggling to process what had transpired. He also paid tribute to his family, calling today a moment when “one family won.”
The magnitude of this run cannot be overstated. Vacherot’s Shanghai triumph will be remembered not just as a personal milestone, but as one of the most underdog breakthroughs in modern tennis at the Masters level.
