Valentin Vacherot stuns Holger Rune to extend Shanghai run, cousin Arthur Rinderknech looks to join qualifier in semis
The magic of family has fittingly been unleashed in the Magic City.
There’s a dream family scenario unfolding at the Rolex Shanghai Masters and on Thursday, Valentin Vacherot added the most special chapter to the story yet.
The 204th-ranked qualifier rallied to upend world No. 11 Holger Rune, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, to continue his magical run at the ATP Masters 1000 event and cement a Top 100 debut when the rankings are published next Monday. Vacherot saved two break points in the final game to serve out his biggest win by ranking at the three-hour mark.
Come Friday, French cousin Arthur Rinderknech looks to join the Monegasque in the final four when he takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime. The family’s group chat will be as active as ever by the sound of it.
“There are 20, 25 people in the WhatsApp group,” Benjamin Balleret, Vacherot’s half brother, coach and former world No. 204, shared with ATPTour.com Wednesday.
"Everybody loves tennis and the mother of Arthur played tennis. My mother played, our mother with Val was a tennis coach. Everybody loves tennis and follows and they supported me when I was playing, now [it is the same] for Val and Arthur. It is basically almost all now only about tennis and where the next holidays will be and how it will be."
Reflected Vacherot to press after his latest win, “It was just an unreal moment for me. So much emotion. To get to share that with my coach brother, my girlfriend, Arthur my cousin. There’s a few people with me here, and also ready (for) tomorrow to cheer on Arthur.”
Vacherot, who followed in Rinderknech’s footsteps by playing college tennis at Texas A&M University before turning pro, owned one 1000-level victory prior to this week. He’s been sensational playing from behind, starting with his two qualifying matches. His comeback victories in the main draw prior to Rune included No. 14 seed Alexander Bublik and No. 27 seed Tallon Griekspoor, with his run taking him to 6-1 against Top 50 opponents this season.
With Vacherot’s effort, a qualifier has now advanced to the semifinals at consecutive Masters 1000 events following Terence Atmane’s run in Cincinnati. The 26-year-old is the second lowest-ranked player to appear in the last four on the 1000 stage since the series began 35 years ago and the first qualifier to reach this juncture of the tournament in Shanghai.
Not bad for a guy who had no idea if he'd see any tournament action upon arriving.
“I landed (last) Thursday evening. I was still nine out. I knew there was a big chance because Shanghai is the (second to) last Masters 1000. A few guys, if you're hurt at the end of the season you are not taking risks. I knew it will drop,” he recalled in press.
“I said, ‘worst of all, I was going to be here one week earlier, because I was going to play five more Challengers after.’ Now I'm just going to go home after this tournament, so it's another funny story.”
Rinderknech is also set to contest the biggest quarterfinal of his career at the age of 30. He, too, has knocked off a trio of seeded opponents to earn his spot among the last eight that included ousting third-ranked Alexander Zverev for the second time in 2025. A win over Auger-Aliassime would enable the Gassin native to call himself a Top 40 player for the first time.
For Rune, it was a missed opportunity to make up substantial ground in the race to the ATP Finals. The Dane will remain at No. 12 and find himself no less than 935 points behind the all-important eighth position as the Turin leaderboard takes further shape. Auger-Aliassime can make the deficit greater if he moves up with a deep run here.