Arthur Rinderknech continued his remarkable Shanghai Masters run by defeating former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling three-set semifinal encounter. The French player’s victory not only secured his place in his first Masters 1000 final but also set up an unprecedented family affair against his cousin Valentin Vacherot.
What Did Arthur Rinderknech Say About Facing His Cousin Valentin Vacherot in the Shanghai Masters Final?
Rinderknech showed tremendous fighting spirit to overcome Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 31 minutes. The 30-year-old Frenchman lost the opening set but bounced back strongly to claim the next two sets and reach his maiden Masters 1000 final.
Medvedev started as the favorite, having won their only previous meeting at the 2022 US Open in straight sets. The Russian took control early, breaking Rinderknech’s serve to claim the first set 6-4. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second set as Rinderknech found his rhythm on serve and began dictating rallies from the baseline.
The turning point came in the second set when Rinderknech raised his level significantly, winning it 6-2 to even the match. The deciding set proved to be a battle of nerves, with both players holding serve until match point. The Frenchman then served out the match to complete one of the biggest wins of his career.
Following his victory, Rinderknech was overcome with emotion as he realized he would face his cousin Vacherot in the final. The scene was unforgettable as Vacherot, who had returned to center court to watch the end of the match, held his head in shock before walking onto the court for an emotional embrace with his cousin. Out of excitement, the Frenchman signed the television camera: “And now what???!!!!”
When asked about facing Vacherot in the final, Rinderknech expressed his disbelief at the situation. “I don’t know. In the best dreams, we couldn’t have dreamt about this. I can’t even say it’s a dream. I don’t think even one person in our family dreamt about it. It wasn’t a dream. It’s just a dream that came out of nowhere, and we started believing it maybe in the quarters. I was like, ‘Who knows? It’s very hard. Maybe a guy or two can pull out. Whatever can happen.’ Now we are here. We fought so many matches. Somehow, we are both guys standing at the end. Just incredible.”
Rinderknech spoke beautifully about him and his cousin Valentin Vacherot reaching the Shanghai final
“The finalist you’re playing tomorrow is your cousin. Valentin was the first to congratulate you when he came out on court. What does it mean to you? Is this all part of some… pic.twitter.com/ezHLVNkkq1
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 11, 2025
Sunday’s final will mark the culmination of an incredible week for both cousins, who have transformed what started as a routine tournament into a fairytale story that has captured the imagination of tennis fans worldwide.
Rinderknech vs Vacherot Set for 2025 Shanghai Masters Final
Earlier in the day, Vacherot had secured his place in the final by stunning four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4. The 26-year-old Monegasque became the lowest-ranked player in Masters 1000 history to reach a final, entering the tournament at world No. 204.
The cousins have made history by becoming the first family members to meet in a Masters 1000 final. Their remarkable runs have captivated the tennis world and created an unprecedented scenario in professional tennis. Both players will achieve career-high rankings following their performances in Shanghai, with Rinderknech set to break into the top 30 for the first time while Vacherot is guaranteed to enter the top 60.