Shanghai,โ China – Valentin Vacherot revealed โthe pivotal moment his belief in a Shanghai Masters title crystallized: โคhis stunning straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. The 27-year-old frenchman, currently ranked no. 37, defeated theโ 24-time Grand Slam champion 6-3, 6-4, a win that fundamentally shifted his expectations at the tournament.
Vacherot’s unexpected run in Shanghai marksโ a careerโฃ breakthrough for the relatively unheralded player. Prior โคto the Masters 1000 event,he had never reached an ATP final,letโ alone defeated a โplayer of djokovic’s caliber. This victory not only securedโ his place in the โfinalโ against fellow Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech but also signaled a potential turning point in Vacherot’s โคcareer,โ propelling him into the top 30 rankings and establishing himโ as aโ force to โbe reckoned withโข on theโฃ ATP Tour. โ
The path to facing Djokovic wasn’t easy. Vacherot โnavigated the qualifying rounds with โขcomeback โคwins against Nishesh Basavareddy and Liam Draxl. In the main draw, he secured a first-round win against Laslo โDjere, followed by an upset of seeded playerโค Alexander Bublik and advancement past Tomasโค Machac due โto a โขwalkover.โ He thenโ overcame Tallon Griekspoor โin three sets before his quarterfinalโ triumph over Holgerโข Rune.
“After the match โagainst Novak, I started โฃto believe I could actually win the tournament,” Vacherot stated. He ultimately fulfilled that โฃbelief, defeating Rinderknech in the โขfinal โคto claim โคhis first โATP Masters 1000 title. The win solidifies Vacherot’sโ position as โฃa rising star in men’s tennis and sets the stage for a potentially impactful end to the season and beyond.
