Valentin Vacherot's impressive Masters 1000 run ended in the Paris quarter-final. The Monegasque, who embraced ten-match winning streak at the premium ATP level, fell to Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 18 minutes.
The Canadian played well from start to finish and sailed through his fourth Masters 1000 semi-final. Vacherot could not do much against an -in-form rival, struggling to find rhythm on the return and failing to match the rival's pace and precision.
Despite the loss, Valentin remained positive about his recent surge that propelled him from outside the top-200 into the top-40. The match did not go his way, but the result could not overshadow the progress he has made over the past few weeks.
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While admitting he could have played better in a couple of exchanges, the Shanghai Masters champion praised his rival and the pace he provided. Valentin did grab a single break, but it was not enough to keep him in contention.
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Many of his returns landed half a meter away from the court, while Auger-Aliassime tamed his strokes nicely and earned the win fair and square. Vacherot's wins in Shanghai and Paris have propelled him into the spotlight.
His experience in the French capital marks important step in his development and reminds that even in defeat, there are lessons that fuel future success.
"This match will not erase what I have accomplished these past few weeks or in Paris alone. I'm proud of myself and of what I have achieved. It was a tough match against Felix, but I'm not responsible for the loss.
There were a few rallies where I did not play well, but I still managed to break him. However, I struggled on the return big time and sent many returns half a meter away from the court.
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Mentally, it was a tough match for me, and Felix was really strong, which I expected. I practiced with him several times over the years, and it's incredible how fast he can play. His level did not surprise me, as he has played very well in the previous weeks.
Felix is responsible for a one-sided scoreboard today," Valentin Vacherot said.
