Valentin Vacherot: A Remarkable Journey to the Shanghai Quarter-Finals
The talented qualifier has stunned the competition by knocking out three seeded players and is now set to face Rune.
October 07, 2025
Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Vacherot Makes History as Lowest-Ranked Quarter-Finalist in Shanghai
By ATP Staff
In an emotional moment on Tuesday, Valentin Vacherot celebrated reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
As the first Monegasque player to achieve a tour-level quarter-final, Vacherot triumphed over Tallon Griekspoor with a score of 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 after a thrilling two-hour and 22-minute match that concluded just before 1 a.m.
“This means the world to me,” Vacherot expressed, still in disbelief. “I don’t quite grasp the magnitude of what I’ve achieved this week. The realization struck me after winning this match. It’s been a joyful week, but this moment is truly surreal.”
Emotions flooded over him as he reflected on the challenges faced in the past year. “To share this experience with my coach, brother, and girlfriend is just unbelievable. I’m on cloud nine right now.”
Starting the week ranked World No. 204, Vacherot previously had only one career victory at an ATP event, which occurred at this year’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Following his stunning performance in Shanghai, he has soared to No. 130 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The 26-year-old, who fired off an impressive 40 winners against Griekspoor, now holds the record as the lowest-ranked quarter-finalist in Shanghai’s history.
“This is completely worth it, especially after sitting out for six months last year due to injury,” shared Vacherot, referring to consecutive victories over seeded players: 14th seed Alexander Bublik, 20th seed Tomas Machac, and 27th seed Griekspoor.
“I was lucky to play freely since January. Last year at Wimbledon, I had a scary fall during the qualifiers, just a few points from winning. I genuinely feared I’d be sidelined for months again, but thankfully, it was just a few weeks. Now, this is the reward for everything I’ve endured.”
Vacherot is preparing to take on 10th seed Holger Rune in his next match. When asked about his opponent, Vacherot replied nonchalantly, “I don’t even know who I’m playing; I don’t focus on the draw.”
In a delightful twist, Vacherot’s cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, is also progressing in the tournament. After toppling Alexander Zverev on Monday, he is now set to compete against 15th seed Jiri Lehecka on Wednesday. Both Vacherot and Rinderknech attended Texas A&M University, sharing two unforgettable seasons together in 2016 and 2017.
Since 2022, Vacherot has worked closely with his half-brother, Benjamin Balleret, as his full-time coach.
