World no 204 Valentin Vacherot is the Shanghai Masters champion! The Monegasque arrived in Shanghai as the qualifying alternate and found a way to enter the draw.
He defeated nine rivals en route to a stunning trophy, his first on the ATP level. Valentin came to Shanghai with one Masters 1000 victory and leaves with a trophy and as world no. 40!
A qualifier faced his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in the most unexpected final in history of this series. He prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 14 minutes to write history books.
The younger player outplayed his cousin behind the first and second serve. He got broken once, like against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, and outplayed his rival in sets two and three.
Vacherot generated 14 break chances and seized three to emerge at the top and write one of the most beautiful tennis stories ever. World no. 204 provided a break in the closing stages of the second set.
He delivered two more in the decider to emerge at the top in style and start a massive celebration with Rinderknech and his family. Thus, the Monegasque completed a full circle and showed once again that anything is possible when someone firmly believes.
