Valentin Vacherot completes a historic run, becoming the lowest-ranked player ever to win an ATP Masters 1000 title

The final of the Shanghai Masters delivered a story for the ages, culminating in Valentin Vacherot completing one of the most stunning underdog runs in tennis history. The World No. 204 secured the title by defeating his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in an emotional final, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Lowest-Ranked Champion in History
Vacherot’s journey has rewritten the record books. Having entered the qualifying draw only as an alternate, the 26-year-old Monégasque secured nine straight wins over two weeks, including monumental victories over top-10 players Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic.

With this triumph, Vacherot is officially the lowest-ranked player ever to win an ATP Masters 1000 title in the 35-year history of the format, and only the third qualifier to ever achieve the feat.

An Emotional Family Final
The final was historic not just for Vacherot’s ranking, but because of his opponent. The two finalists, Vacherot and World No. 54 Arthur Rinderknech, are first cousins, who trained together and clearly inspired each other throughout the tournament.

Rinderknech claimed the first set, leveraging his experience, but Vacherot, who had recovered from a set down three times earlier in the tournament, roared back. He found his rhythm behind a powerful serve and dominant backhand, winning five consecutive games across the second and third sets to seal the championship.

The emotional moment following the final point saw both cousins share a long embrace at the net, both breaking down in tears during the trophy ceremony.

“It’s unreal what just happened,” Vacherot said. “Sharing this [with Arthur] was really tough… but I think there are two winners today, one family that won and I think for the sport of tennis, this story is unreal.”

Vacherot Shanghai Masters Champion is more than just a title; it is the culmination of a sporting fairytale that will be remembered for decades.