Valentin Vacherot pulled off one of the most unexpected runs in tennis history by winning the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.
The Monegasque player became the lowest-ranked winner of an ATP Masters 1000 title after beating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final.
Vacherot’s path to victory was no easy feat. He took down Tallon Griekspoor, Holger Rune, and Novak Djokovic before facing Rinderknech.
In doing so, Vacherot became just the third qualifier to win a Masters 1000 title since 1990. The win over Djokovic stood out as Vacherot’s biggest upset yet, and the two shared a moment after their match.
Vacherot recalls Djokovic’s compliments after Shanghai win
After Vacherot’s straight-sets win over Djokovic, the two met at the net, and their exchange left a lasting impression on the qualifier.
“I thought to myself, ‘It’s not up to me to talk’, I have to let him talk,” Vacherot told Eurosport France. “He is the most successful player in the history of tennis. Our handshake was sublime.
“He tells me that my victory is totally deserved, that my level was extraordinary. He tells me good luck for the final and to continue like this.
Djokovic was hampered by an injury in the opening set and took a medical timeout but found his rhythm again in the second, even taking a brief lead before Vacherot regained control.
Why Vacherot’s Shanghai title came with more than the standard 1000 points
Usually, winning a Masters 1000 event earns a player exactly that – 1000 ATP points. But Vacherot left Shanghai with a bit more, thanks to how his week started. Before even reaching the main draw, he picked up an additional 20 points by coming through qualifying.
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So by the time he beat Rinderknech in the final, his total haul for the tournament stood at 1,020 points.
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