It was a trophy ceremony unlike any other at the 2025 Shanghai Masters as cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech, who had spent years building their games side by side, found themselves on opposite sides of the net in the biggest final of their careers.
But as the final point was played and the emotions poured in, the title match turned into a deeply personal family moment, complete with tears, heartfelt words, and even an unexpected bout of cramps.
How Did Years of Family Ties and College Tennis Bring Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech to the Big Stage?
Vacherot and Rinderknech’s story is one straight out of a sports fairy tale. The two, who hail from Monaco and France respectively, first played together during their college years at Texas A&M University, where their friendship deepened both on and off the court. Years later, that connection carried them to the grand stage of the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai, marking the first time the cousins faced each other in a Masters final.
Starting the tournament ranked World No. 204, Vacherot battled his way through qualifying and strung together a series of victories over notable opponents. After defeating Laslo Djere in the first round, he fought past 14th seed Alexander Bublik, 20th seed Tomáš Macháč (walkover), 27th seed Tallon Griekspoor, and 10th seed Holger Rune in a near three-hour quarterfinal.
His semifinal win over four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic, 6-3, 6-4, made him the first Monegasque player ever to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final. His 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in the championship match secured his maiden Masters title and also made him the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in history since 1990, earning him $1,124,380 in prize money.
The moment Vacherot completed a fairytale run 🙌#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/lFMt9ez7h7
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 12, 2025
Rinderknech’s journey to the final was equally fascinating. Ranked No. 54 entering the tournament, he began his campaign with a walkover over Hamad Medjedovic in the first round before powering through the draw.
He defeated 28th seed Alex Michelsen, then shocked World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in three sets and followed it up with wins over 15th seed Jiri Lehecka, 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, and former champion Daniil Medvedev.
When the final ended after two hours and 14 minutes with Vacherot’s 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory, emotions quickly spilled over. The 26-year-old Monegasque looked skyward before grabbing a marker to leave a message on the broadcast camera: “Grandpa and Grandma would be proud.”
A proud family moment ❤️#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/TEvBJyqCCg
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 12, 2025
What Made the Shanghai Masters Trophy Ceremony So Emotional?
Rinderknech struggled to contain his feelings during the runner-up speech. “For Valentin… my darling cousin… bravo, incredible,” the 30-year-old Frenchman said through tears. “Two cousins are stronger than one. You won today, bravo. I gave everything. I couldn’t have done more, but you deserved it so much. I’m so happy for you. I hope we’re going to have more [success]. It’s only the beginning.”
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Vacherot responded with equal warmth in his victory speech, acknowledging the profound role Rinderknech played in shaping his career: “If I didn’t get into Texas A&M in 2017 thanks to you, we wouldn’t be here today. I dreamt of following you into the top 100, and now we’re both in it together.”
The moment turned unexpectedly lighthearted when Rinderknech, still recovering from the grueling match, began cramping on stage mid-ceremony. As staff rushed in to assist, Vacherot broke the tension with a smile and a playful remark: “I think we need some help please?”
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Their remarkable run at the Shanghai Masters propelled both cousins to new milestones, with Vacherot projected to climb to a career-best World No. 40 and Rinderknech expected to rise to a personal-high No. 28.