SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON, October 8, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot earned his first ranking point at age 16, broke inside the Top 500 in January 2022 and cracked the Top 200 two years later. He achieved a career-high ranking of No. 110 in June of last year after achieving a 15-0 start to the season on the ATP Challenger level. Vacherot is a four-time Challenger titlist, most recently at Pune in 2024.
If Vacherot isn’t exactly a household tennis name like his cousin, France’s Arthur Rinderknech, not to worry. Give him time. Born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France into a tennis family, the 6-foot-4-inch, 26-year-old Vacherot is coached by former Monegasque player Benjamin Balleret, who is his half-brother, and he happened to also play collegiate tennis in the United States at Texas A&M University, alongside Rinderknech for two seasons in 2016-17, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business. Vacherot has also represented Monaco in Davis Cup competition.
As Tuesday evening morphed into early Wednesday morning, the 204th-ranked qualifier Vacherot pulled off another upset victory at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, defeating World No. 31 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4, in two hours and 22 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals round against World No. 11 and 10th seed Holger Rune of Denmark. He’s the first player from Monaco to reach an ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal in series history and also is the lowest-ranked quarterfinalist in tournament history.
Historic First ATP Tour Quarter-Final
Vacherot makes history for Monaco, defeating Griekspoor 4-6 7-6 6-4 to become the lowest ranked (204) player to ever reach Shanghai QFs!@val_vacherot #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/F7ZMrZbMU7
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 7, 2025
Vacherot’s unbelievable run this week to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal in China’s biggest city has included victories over three seeded players – 14th seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, 20th seed Tomas Machac of Czechia and 27th seed Griekspoor, which improved his win-loss record against Top-50 opponents this season to 5-1. Considering that Vacherot came into the penultimate Masters 1000 event of the season with just one career victory at the ATP Tour level, at his hometown event in Monte-Carlo earlier this season, this week has been all the more remarkable.
“It means everything,” said Vacherot during his on-court interview. “I don’t think I could really realize what I was doing this whole week and it kind of all hit me when I just won this match. I was just happy this whole week, but not through the roof and this one is unbelievable.
“So much emotion just thinking of the tough times I had last year, even this year. Just to share that with my coach, brother, my girlfriend – it’s unbelievable and I’m having one of the best times in my life right now.”
“I’m having the best time of my life right now”
An incredible moment for @val_vacherot #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/mLhZJX5xkz
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 7, 2025
Thanks to his memorable week in Shanghai, Vacherot has shot up in the PIF ATP Live Rankings to No. 130, a considerable jump in just one tournament. Against Griekspoor Vacherot struck 40 winners, and at 5-all in the second set – with the match hanging in the balance – he saved six break points during an 18-point marathon game to hold serve. Then, Vacherot pulled out the set by dominating the Dutch No. 1 in a tie-break, 7-1, and went on to prevail in the decider.
“This is 100 percent the reward, being on the bench six months last year [due to injury],” Vacherot said. “Thankfully, I was able to play [injury] free since January. That was unbelievable. I had a nasty fall at Wimbledon in the [qualifying] first round, I was a few points from victory. I’m not going to lie, I thought I was going to be out a couple of months again. It was just a few weeks. Now this is the reward for everything I went through.”
World No. 204 takes the tiebreak 7-1 vs Griekspoor
And we are headed to a midnight decider!@val_vacherot #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/Jbh2wUTFKD
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 7, 2025
On Thursday, Vacherot will oppose Rune, who earlier Tuesday advanced with a 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-3 victory over No. 32 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France.
“I don’t even know who I’m playing, I don’t look at the draw,” said Vacherot, with a hint of laughter in his voice.
As it happens, Rinderknech, who knocked off No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in the third round on Monday, is still alive in the Shanghai draw and will face No. 15 seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia on Wednesday for a berth in the quarterfinals. Being in opposite halves of the draw, Vacherot and Rinderknech could only meet in the championship final. Considering how unpredictable everything has been, it would almost seem fitting for the two cousins to meet for the title.
Late night tennis never disappoints @val_vacherot #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/FUTcLAqcyu
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 7, 2025
