Follow us on Google Discover Valentin Vacherot will still be on cloud nine after his stunning victory at the Shanghai Masters, where he clinched his first ATP title.
Vacherot has risen to 40th in the world rankings following his win in Shanghai, where he beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final.
The 26-year-old started the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in qualifying, needing nine wins in total to lift the trophy.
Tennis legend Roger Federer attended Vacherot’s final with Rinderknech, in which he came from behind to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Vacherot has earned an ATP 500 Basel wildcard following his superb success, with the tournament starting next week.
Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesValentin Vacherot shares how Jannik Sinner treats him in the locker room
Vacherot deserves a Paris Masters wildcard too, where he could come face-to-face with world number two Jannik Sinner.
He has shared insight into his relationship with the Italian for Corriere della Sera, with both players currently resident in Monaco.
READ MORE: The classy move Jannik Sinner made after losing for the very first time on the ATP Tour back in 2019
Asked if they see each other often in Monte Carlo, Vacherot said: “We’ve never trained together, but close to each other.
“I often run into him at the gym, in the locker rooms, he’s a great person, he always wishes me good luck for tournaments, even when they’re Challengers. I hope to play against him soon, it would be an honor.”
How Valentin Vacherot thought about a potential match against Jannik Sinner in Shanghai
Vacherot was indeed preparing for a first match against Sinner at the Shanghai Masters, but the latter’s injury struggles prevented that from happening.
Sinner retired hurt in Shanghai during his third round match against Tallon Griekspoor, allowing the Dutchman to progress to a round of 16 tie with Vacherot.
Speaking of the meeting that never came about, the eventual champion said: “I was thinking of challenging Sinner in Shanghai. And I was telling myself, ‘Playing with Jannik is the best thing that could happen to me.’
“I followed his match with Griekspoor and his withdrawal, and I said to myself ‘I’ll have more chances’. It went well.”
It will be a huge moment for the one-time ATP winner when he finally does come up against Sinner, who has 21 titles to his name, including four Grand Slams.
But as Vacherot has just proven in Shanghai, anything is possible, with the Monegasque ace lifting the trophy as a qualifier against his cousin in one of the greatest tennis stories ever.