Less than two months since losing in theSaint-Tropez Challenger to world no. 311, Valentin Vacherot is a top-30 player! The Monegasque has enjoyed one of the most extraordinary climbs in recent years, writing history books along the way.
Valentin needed a couple of weeks to rocket from outside the top-200 to inside the top-30. He stunned the tennis world in Shanghai, entering the qualifying draw as an alternate and becoming the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion.
That breakthrough victory over his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, launched him into the spotlight and ignited a run of ten consecutive Masters 1000 victories that ended in the Paris Masters quarter-final.
Vacherot's back-to-back deep Masters 1000 runs have positioned him among the sport's most exciting new names heading into 2026. The Monegasque player has credited his transformation to learning from the best and understanding that he can compete against them - and win - even without providing his A-game.
After years atFutures and Challengers, Valentin now eyes consistent performances at the sport's biggest tournaments. He looks ahead to the new season and all the challenges in front.
Vacherot plans to stick with the coaching team that helped spark his breakthrough, led by his cousin, Benjamin Balleret. With confidence, rhythm and belief now firmly in place, Valentin enters 2026 not as an underdog but as a genuine contender.
His rise stands as a reminder that in tennis, fairy tales can still come true. In addition, his story might just be getting started, with plenty more to come in the season ahead of us.
"I learned to play like the best players in the world. I realized that even without playing at a perfect level, I could beat guys ranked 25th-30th in the world, which is cool. From now on, it will be a series of discoveries for me.
I will have to maintain this level. I have played without pressure in Shanghai and Paris, and it worked. I can gain plenty of points at the biggest tournaments next year, which allows me to relax.
I will try to keep my coaching staff, even though we will have more extended and distanced tours. If it's working like this, why change?" Valentin Vacherot said.
