2025 Shanghai Masters final: Victorious Vacherot creates history in thrilling final with Rinderknech
One man was going to win his first ATP title in his first tour-level final, an ATP Masters 1000 no less, the highest level of competition right below the Grand Slams.
Rinderknech secured the first break of the match in the third game, and that would prove the early difference given his formidable service. An unorthodox motion works wonders for the Frenchman, who took the first set with a 76 per cent serve percentage and lost just five points on his serve.
For Vacherot, it was vital to keep up with his cousin by maintaining his own serving consistency and switching up his shots to stay in control. The Monégasque saw his chance off a misjudged Rinderknech dropshot, creating a break point which his opponent saved with a mega 136mph (219kmh) ace.
When the second break point came around moments later, Vacherot was not going to let it slide. A ferocious backhand winner down the line sealed his first break of the match, and the world no. 204 took the second set to force a decider.
All of a sudden, Vacherot had cracked Rinderknech’s serving code, breaking him for the second game running with another backhand winner to start the third set. The 26-year-old was on the verge of a double break at 40-0 up, but Rinderknech fought back to hold, his roar evidence of how key a moment it was.
Both playing their third three-set match of the week, Rinderknech took a medical time out for his back at 2-3. Vacherot still had the lead and his serving strength, and with the chance to break his opponent for the championship, did so down the line with a 12th winner of the day to enter his name into the sport’s history books.