The summer finale in the Shanghai Masters reloaded in Paris, in the 2nd round, with the same winner: Valentin Vacherot
Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 16:04 / Updated on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 16:04
Monegasque player Valentin Vacherot (26 years old, ranked 40th in the world) defeated his cousin Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech (30 years old, number 29 ATP) in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Paris, 6-7 (9), 6-3, 6-4. The two also faced each other in October in the Shanghai finalone of the most improbable in recent years.
SUMMER Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rindeknech they met for the second time in a month, this time in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Paris.
The outcome was identical to the one in Shanghai, only the score was slightly different, but, just like in China, the French won the first set, then the Monegasque came back and prevailed. In a tense atmosphere, the two dueled putting everything on the slow pitch of La Defense Arena, during almost three hours of play.
An extended tie-break was needed to decide the first act, in which Vacherot had two balls to win it and Rinderknech capitalized on his third.
But then, the champion from Shanghai showed that he is fresher and more inspired, winning the next two sets, 6-3, 6-4. For Valentin, it is only the second time in his career that he has reached the third round in a Masters tournament, the first being in China, two weeks ago.
Vacherot Takes The Win! 👏@val_vacherot defeats cousin Rinderknech 6-7 6-3 6-4 to move into the Round of 16#RolexParisMasters
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 29, 2025
For now, he has climbed 5 places in the ATP Live ranking, up to 35. For a place in the quarter-finals in Paris, the Monegasque will duel with the “executioner” of Carlos Alcaraz, the British Cameron Norrie. It will be their first meeting at any level.
Valentin Vacherot: “I did the same thing over and over again, there was nothing to change”
Before the match with his cousin and after the dominant victory, 6-1, 6-3in front of the 13th seed, Jiri LeheckaVacherot reflected on this glorious period that his career is going through.
“Everything I've experienced in the last two or three weeks helps me a lot to not have emotions” Valentin told the Tennis Channel. Going from playing tennis for Texas A&M University to the ATP Challenger circuit and now being close to the highest level of professional tennis – it all points to a story where fairies and princes are rackets, nets, balls.
“I think everything changed when I beat Bublik in the second round,” he pointed out, having gone through two qualifying rounds. “I just focused on myself because that's what worked in previous matches. I did the same thing over and over again, there was nothing to change, just to adapt during matches because I met very valuable opponents for the first time in my lifehe said.
Valentin Vacherot with the trophy in the Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai Photo: Guliver/Gettyimages
Among his losers were Holger Rune and Novak Djokovicthe game with the second being one he will never forget.
It was already unreal to play against him, but once I stepped on the court, almost all the excitement disappeared, because I just wanted to feel good. I wasn't thinking that I shouldn't have been there, but I know if someone had told me two weeks before that I would be in the round of 16, in the quarter-finals, I would have said that was a bit crazy! But it helped me a lot to be a little more relaxed. I was playing so well! – Valentin Vacherot
But he gives a lot of credit to his time on the Challenger circuit for his recent success. “The level is very tough there, there are no easy matches, it shows in my record this year. I had many quarter-finals and semi-finals, but I couldn't push to reach the final or a title. Maybe I needed to get on the big circuit to make it!“, the Monegasque concluded with a laugh.
