Valentin Vacherot has become the story of the Shanghia Masters after coming through qualifying to reach the semi-finals. But the world No. 204 didn’t even have a spot in the qualies draw when he landed in China, and needed nine players to withdraw before he made it in.
“I landed on Thursday evening. I was still nine out. I knew there was a big chance because Shanghai is the last Masters 1000. A few guys, if you’re hurt at the end of the season you are not taking risks. I knew it will drop,” he explained.
“But, yeah, there was, I said, worst of all, I was going to be here one week earlier, because I was going to play five more Challengers after. Now I’m just going to go home after this tournament, so it’s another funny story.
“So, yeah, I said to myself, if I don’t get in, I just train in the condition of China for just one week, and just be ready for after. And one day before I learned.”