Cousins, Roommates & Quarter-Finalists: Rinderknech & Vacherot Star in Family Group Chat
For the first time, both Rinderknech & Vacherot have reached the quarter-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 event.
Date: October 08, 2025
By Greg Sharko
Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech are on the verge of achieving career-high rankings in the PIF ATP standings.
Reported by Greg Sharko
The family chat for Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot has been buzzing during the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The Frenchman Rinderknech and Vacherot from Monaco, who are cousins, have both advanced to the quarter-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time in their careers.
On Wednesday, Rinderknech triumphed over his third-seeded opponent, defeating Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-5, to join his cousin in the quarter-finals. Vacherot had earlier bested Tallon Griekspoor in a thrilling three-set match.
“Our family WhatsApp group has been incredibly active in the past few days,” Rinderknech shared, adorning the courtside camera lens with ‘I follow you Val’ followed by a heart emoji after his victory. “It’s fantastic! At least we’re reuniting online and enjoying each other’s achievements. It’s truly cool to see everyone cheering us on.”
Vacherot’s coach is none other than his half-brother, Benjamin Balleret, who himself competed on the ATP Tour, peaking at No. 204 in the PIF ATP Rankings in June 2006. Balleret noted the excitement from both families back home.
“Our WhatsApp group has about 20 to 25 members,” Balleret mentioned. “Everyone shares a passion for tennis. Our mothers played the sport, and our mother with Val was a tennis coach. It’s wonderful to see our families rally around us during this time.”
Rinderknech has turned the tide since June, boasting a 6-3 record against Top 20 opponents after struggling through the start of the season. He has now notched multiple Top 20 wins in a single tournament for the first time.
“My serve was crucial today and I’m pleased with how I performed,” Rinderknech said, anticipating a leap from No. 54 to No. 43 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings—just one spot shy of his career-best No. 42 achieved in October 2022. “I knew facing a player like Jiri meant my serve needed to be on point. I came out fired up, and it felt great to close it out in two sets.”
Vacherot, currently ranked No. 204, has made history as the first player from Monaco to reach an ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final and the lowest-ranked quarter-finalist since 2009.
“He’s showcasing excellent form this week and has been making strides in his game for years,” Rinderknech praised Vacherot. “He’s faced some injuries, but now we’re witnessing his best play. It’s just the beginning for him.”
Vacherot is set to challenge 10th seed Holger Rune on Thursday. He previously achieved a career-high ranking of No. 110 last June but was sidelined by a right shoulder injury that hampered his ability to serve and execute forehands.
“At one point, we feared he might not play for two years,” Balleret explained. “He attempted to compete at the US Open qualifiers but could only manage one match before retiring in the second set. It was a challenging period for us.”
At 26 years old, Vacherot is competing in only his second tour-level event of the season, having made it to the second round at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters back in April. He also boasts a solid 22-16 record on the ATP Challenger Tour with a runner-up finish in Francavilla al Mare, Italy in May.
Climbing from No. 204 to No. 130 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, a victory against Rune would set Vacherot alongside his cousin in the Top 100 at No. 92.
“It didn’t hit me until I won that match – the whole week’s emotions suddenly surged,” Vacherot reflected on his recent success. “I have loved this week, but this win has been unbelievable. To share this moment with my coach, brother, and girlfriend means everything. I’m living some of the best moments of my life.”
Rinderknech and Vacherot shared a collegiate journey as teammates at Texas A&M University from 2016-2018, occasionally teaming up in doubles matches.
“I brought him to College Station,” Rinderknech reminisced. “Having two and a half years together there was wonderful. We shared countless days filled with fun and great experiences—it was a fantastic chapter of our lives.”
Now, these former college teammates will continue to support each other in Shanghai, all while their families cheer them on from afar.
