Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot beats cousin Arthur Rinderknech to claim stunning Shanghai Masters title

Valentin Vacherot has achieved the unthinkable — becoming Monaco’s first-ever ATP Tour singles champion and the lowest-ranked player in history to win a Masters 1000 event after a breathtaking victory at the Shanghai Masters.

Ranked just world No.204, the 25-year-old produced one of the sport’s most astonishing upsets by defeating four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, before overcoming his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 in a gripping all-French final.

The match was a compelling family showdown filled with emotion, intensity, and sheer disbelief. Rinderknech, known for his big serve and composure, started the stronger of the two, firing 12 clean winners and committing only two unforced errors as he took the opening set. His poise, however, would not last long.

From 3–3 in the second set, Vacherot found another gear. He broke Rinderknech’s serve twice in a row, showing the same fearless aggression that had carried him past Djokovic the day before. The momentum shifted dramatically as the Monaco-born player began dictating rallies and finding impossible angles from the baseline.

By the third set, the tide was irreversible. Rinderknech, who called a medical timeout at 3–2, struggled to recover his rhythm as Vacherot continued to apply relentless pressure. Just over two hours after the opening serve, the unseeded underdog sealed victory with a coolly struck forehand winner that sent the crowd into raptures.

For a player whose career prize money before the event stood at just £380,000, the Shanghai win — and its £824,000 cheque — marks a life-changing milestone. But for Vacherot, the numbers barely seemed to register amid the magnitude of the moment.

“It is unreal what just happened,” he said, speaking to ATP Tour media moments after his triumph. “I have no idea what is happening right now. I am not even dreaming — it’s just crazy. I am so happy with my performances these past two weeks. I just want to thank everyone who has helped me with my career since the beginning.”

His victory also makes him Monaco’s first Masters 1000 champion — an achievement that elevates him from relative obscurity to international acclaim. Tennis fans across the globe had watched in awe as the world No.204 stormed past elite opposition throughout the tournament, repeatedly clawing back from one-set deficits. In Shanghai alone, he came from behind six times — an extraordinary testament to his mental and physical resilience.

The final itself was both a family affair and a statement of intent. Facing a relative on the opposite side of the net is never easy, but Vacherot handled the pressure with calm authority. Each break of serve was greeted not with wild celebration, but with quiet determination. His emotional control was as impressive as his shotmaking.

Rinderknech, gracious in defeat, could only acknowledge the scale of his cousin’s achievement. The match, though competitive, carried an unmistakable sense of pride between the two — cousins turned rivals, united in history.

Vacherot’s improbable victory caps off a fortnight of breakthroughs and upsets, culminating in one of the ATP Tour’s most unexpected champions. His run through Shanghai will be remembered as one of tennis’s great underdog tales — a week when a world No.204 toppled legends, defied odds, and rewrote the record books.

For the new champion, the next challenge begins now. But as the Shanghai crowd cheered him into the night, one thing was certain: Valentin Vacherot has announced himself to the world in unforgettable style.