The cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech are in the final of the ATP Masters in Shanghai. This is an extraordinary constellation in terms of sport and family.
Anyone who would have predicted this final pairing before the Masters tournament in Shanghai would probably have been considered crazy. The Monegasque Valentin Vacherot and the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech will face each other in the final of the Masters 1000 in Shanghai on Sunday. And this constellation is not only unique for sporting reasons.
But one thing after the other: As far as the family relationship between the two protagonists is concerned, there has never been anything like it on the ATP circuit. Because Vacherot is Rinderknech’s cousin. The two’s mothers are sisters.
And that’s not all about family ties. Benjamin Balleret is the trainer and also Vacherot’s half-brother – and therefore also Rinderknech’s cousin. And Balleret also looked after Rinderknech during the tournament because his coach wasn’t there. A real family affair.
The family group is buzzing
The personal bond between Vacherot and Rinderknech is extremely close: They were at college together in Texas for two and a half years and were also doubles partners there. Vacations together have been just as much a part of their lives as dinner every evening, if possible.
“Our family WhatsApp group has been buzzing for the last few days,” Rinderknech said last. “I can’t complain, it’s great and it brings the family together, at least online, and we have a bit of fun. Everyone looks out for each other, it’s really cool.”
Success on many levels
The sporting genesis of this final participation is just as extraordinary. Vacherot had only flown to Shanghai on the chance, with the vague hope that he could somehow slip into qualifying. And world number 204 actually had fortune, one player withdrew his participation. The investment was worth it.
Then the 26-year-old’s arduous but unusually successful journey began in the tropical heat, which led him to the final. No one before him had ever achieved this with such a low ranking position in a Masters tournament. Vacherot has already secured a place in the top 60. He is also already $597,000 richer. Vacherot had previously won around $500,000 in his entire career.
Hug for cousin
But for Rinderknech, the current number 54 in the world, reaching the final also means the greatest success of his career. The 30-year-old sat on the court after his semi-final win against Russian Daniil Madvedev (4:6, 6:2, 6:4) and was close to tears. Then his cousin, who had been supporting him in the stands, came onto the pitch and silently hugged him.
“I can’t even say this is a dream – not a single person in our family has dreamed of it,” Rinderknech said later. “Now we’re both standing here, having fought our way through so many matches, and somehow we’re the two remaining ones standing here at the end. That’s just incredible.”