The world number one Carlos Alcaraz and the two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tstsipas from Greece had to pass, but apart from that, all players from the top 30 of the ATP ranking took part in the Masters in Shanghai last week. It was a sensation that the French Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot from Monaco, number 54 and number 204 in the world rankings, ultimately duel for the title. The fact that the qualifier from the principality triumphed was actually an almost unbelievable fairy tale. How incredible, the statistics back it up.
Before he started qualifying for the ATP Masters in Shanghai, Valentin Vacherot played 57 matches on the tour in 2025, including the Davis Cup. Of these, the Monegasque won 35 and lost 22 – a solid return, but not one that reveals a 26-year-old as a potential world-class player.
Especially since Vacherot’s biggest coup of the year up to Shanghai was a clear 6:2-6:1 win against the then number 49 in the ranking Jan-Lennard Struff at the Masters in Monaco. A tournament in which Vacherot earned his place as the best Monegasque on the tour. More surprises? In short supply!
On the contrary: In the run-up to the dream come true in China, Vacherot was eliminated in the first round of the Challenger in Saint-Tropez against the French Robin Bertrand (number 311 in the world rankings), and at the Challenger in Manacor shortly before, even the Japanese Jay Dylan Hara Friend (number 874 in the world rankings) was too high a hurdle.
Unlike in the years 2021 to 2024, in which Vacherot always won at least two smaller tournaments and even four Challengers in total, in 2025 there was no tournament victory until Shanghai. In the ATP ranking, Vacherot fell out of the top 200.
With these facts in mind, Vacherot narrowly slipped into the qualifying field in Shanghai, in which he faced elimination against US talent Nishesh Basavareddy and Liam Draxl from Canada and only narrowly made it into the main field of the Masters.
“It’s unbelievable what just happened”
The subsequent explosion of performance, which led to victories against Laslo Djere from Serbia (number 82 in the world rankings), Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan (17), the Czech Tomas Machac (23), Tallon Griekspoor from the Netherlands (31), Holger Rune from Denmark (11), record Grandslam winner Novak Djokovic (5) and finally Rinderknech (54) that even the boldest betting providers would not have had up their sleeves.
No wonder, after Roberto Carretero (1996 in Hamburg) and Albert Portas (2001 in Hamburg), Vacherot became only the third qualifier to win a Masters title, but no one had previously been listed lower than Monegasque in the ATP ranking.
“It’s unbelievable what just happened. I have no idea what’s happening. I’m not even dreaming, it’s just crazy,” Vacherot struggled for words after his coup. And further: “I’m just so happy with my performances over the last two weeks. […] And I think this story is incredible for tennis.”
Oh yes, the fact that Rinderknech, who also reached the final completely unexpectedly, is Vacherot’s cousin is sufficiently told, but gives the crazy story another cinematic chapter.