Rinderknech blasts his through Vacherot as his cousin comes into the net. The qualifier is having to battle here to get through service games, but finds the way. He takes an aggressive approach again as he comes into the net, with Rinderknech pushed wide on the backhand down the line. He pumps his fist.
Rinderknech will have new balls as he comes out to serve.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 10:12
An error from Rinderknech as he thumps the overhead long of the baseline. Vacherot moves to 40-0 with a one-two punch on serve and forehand winner.
Rinderknech, though, is asking the questions on return. He scorches a forehand winner and then a slice from Rinderknech spins away from Vacherot.
It’s followed by a double-fault. We go to deuce.
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 10:09
Rinderknech produces a lovely backhand crosscourt winner, finding the angle. He follows it with another big serve out wide. Another love-hold on the board for the 30-year-old Frenchman.
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 10:04
Vacherot has played many matches in Shanghai this week with his shirt, drenched in sweat, sticking to his large frame. It’s already soaked through in the heat.
He holds with little fuss, though. Rinderknech missed a volley at the net and Vacherot closed it out on serve. Both players have large fans positioned behind them at the changeovers to cool down.
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 10:02
Wonderful point as Vacherot and Rinderknech push hard to find the angles, but the Frenchman produces the forehand crosscourt to pass Vacherot at the net.
Rinderknech finds a beauty of a serve down the middle to take the hold. The older cousin has started well.
(REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 09:58
BREAK! Vacherot 1-2 Rinderknech*
Some tension now from the racket of Vacherot. A forehand finds the net and the second flies long of the baseline. Two break points for Rinderknech. The Frenchman moves well as Vacherot goes aggressive down 15-40 and hangs up a backhand lob.
Vacherot nets on the overhead!
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 09:52
Rinderknech holds with an ace out wide. Rinderknech and Vacherot are both tall with large frames. This could be a serve-dominant final, but Vacherot can move too as he gets up to a short ball from Rinderknech to put away the backhand pass.
Rinderknech closes with the serve-and-volley and then the ace.
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 09:50
Vacherot makes a very confident start on serve, swarming the net to close out a scrambling opening point and putting away a forehand winner crosscourt to hold to love.
And there is an A-lister watching on. Roger Federer is in the stands!
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 09:46
Both Vacherot and Rinderknech have watched each other’s matches from the stands in Shanghai this week. Now, they face each other across the net in a historic final.
Vacherot won the toss and will serve first!
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 09:43
Here we go! Unique scenes in Shanghai as Rinderknech and Vacherot walk out onto the court in Shanghai and embrace at the net ahead of the start of the Masters final.
Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech ahead of the all-cousin final in Shanghai (REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood12 October 2025 09:36