The Shanghai Masters witnessed an extraordinary finale as Valentin Vacherot completed his fairytale run to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 title. The 26-year-old Monegasque, who entered the tournament ranked 204th in the world, defeated his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Sunday’s championship match.
What Did Valentin Vacherot Write on TV Camera After Beating Cousin Arthur Rinderknech in Shanghai Masters Final?
The final between Vacherot and Rinderknech marked the first time in ATP Masters 1000 history that two family members faced each other for the title. Rinderknech started strongly, claiming the opening set 6-4 after breaking his younger cousin in the third game. However, Vacherot responded with characteristic resilience, winning the second set 6-3 and carrying that momentum into the decider.
The match statistics revealed Vacherot’s serving excellence, as he fired eight aces and struck 12 winners during the two-hour, 12-minute contest. His ability to win 78 percent of points on his first serve proved crucial in overcoming Rinderknech’s early advantage. Following his victory, Vacherot displayed pure emotion as he collapsed in disbelief before sharing a heartfelt embrace with his older cousin.
In a touching moment after securing the victory, Vacherot signed the television camera with a deeply personal message: “Grandpa and grandma would be proud.”
We’re not crying, you’re crying 🥲🫶
You should be so proud Valentin ❤️#vacherot #rolexshanghaimasters pic.twitter.com/QAbsE3Vq1k
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 12, 2025
This emotional tribute added another layer to an already remarkable story that had captivated tennis fans worldwide.
The cousins had supported each other throughout the tournament, with Rinderknech even signing a camera lens “I follow you Val” after his quarterfinal victory. When Rinderknech won the semifinal against former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, Vacherot was courtside celebrating his cousin’s triumph, leading to an emotional embrace as they realized their dream final was confirmed.
The Historic Shanghai Masters Final Between Vacherot and Rinderknech
Vacherot’s path to glory represents one of the most improbable runs in ATP Masters 1000 history. The qualifier entered Shanghai ranked 204th and uncertain whether he would even make the qualifying draw. He had earned just one tour-level victory in his entire career before this tournament, coming at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier in 2025.
The moment Vacherot completed a fairytale run 🙌#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/lFMt9ez7h7
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 12, 2025
His extraordinary fortnight included stunning victories over seeded players Alexander Bublik, Tomáš Macháč, Tallon Griekspoor, Holger Rune, and ultimately four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. The 6-3, 6-4 victory over Djokovic made Vacherot the lowest-ranked player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final since the series began in 1990.
Vacherot became just the third qualifier in history to win a Masters 1000 title, joining Roberto Carretero and Albert Portas who achieved the feat in Hamburg. His triumph also made him the first player representing Monaco to win an ATP singles title in the Open Era.
The victory catapults Vacherot from world No. 204 to No. 40 in the ATP rankings, representing a jump of 164 positions. He also earned $1,124,380 in prize money, nearly doubling his career earnings which stood at $594,077 before the tournament. Rinderknech, despite his defeat, reached a career-high ranking of No. 28 following his impressive run to the final.
