Monte-Carlo
\n Vacherot makes history in Monte-Carlo, digs deep for QF spot<\/p>\n
27-year-old is first Monegasque in Open Era to reach the last eight in Monaco<\/p>\n
April 09, 2026<\/p>\n
Corinne Dubreuil\/ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Valentin Vacherot is the first Monegasque player in the Open Era to reach the quarter-finals at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Valentin Vacherot<\/a> made more ATP Masters 1000 history on Thursday, but this time it came on much more familiar ground at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old drew on a vibrant home crowd to rally past former World No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz<\/a> 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals at the clay-court event. With his two-hour, 53-minute victory, Vacherot became the first Monegasque player in the Open Era to reach the last eight in Monte-Carlo.<\/p>\n Vacherot\u2019s breakthrough on home soil comes just eight months after he triumphed in Shanghai as the World No. 204 to become the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion since the series began in 1990.<\/p>\n Another one for the books \ud83d\udd25@val_vacherot<\/a> keeps making history in Monte-Carlo! @ROLEXMCMASTERS<\/a> | #RolexMonteCarloMasters<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9YfXaaWljd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) April 9, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n In a dramatic end to his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Hurkacz, Vacherot saved three break points, including two straight from 15\/40. Once he had converted his first match point, the 6’4″ powerhouse fell to his knees and soaked in the applause from the packed Court Rainier III crowd.<\/p>\n By upsetting last year\u2019s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti<\/a> in straight sets to reach the third round in Monaco for the first time, Vacherot joined his half-brother and coach Benjamin Balleret<\/a> as the only Monegasque men to reach that stage. But with his gutsy win over Hurkacz, Vacherot has etched history of his own on home soil.<\/p>\n You May Also Like: Vacherot: ‘Your partner is really, really important’<\/a><\/p>\n Vacherot is up four spots to No. 19 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, guaranteeing himself a new career high on Monday. In the Monte-Carlo quarter-finals, he will meet fifth seed Alex de Minaur<\/a>.<\/p>\n