World number 204 Valentin Vacherot produced a stunning comeback to beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday and claim the Shanghai Masters title, becoming the lowest-ranked champion in the history of ATP Masters 1000 events.
The all-family final between 54th-ranked Frenchman Rinderknech and Vacherot, from Monaco, was one of the tournament’s unlikeliest outcomes. Vacherot’s coach and half-brother, Benjamin Balleret, described the victory as a “fairytale”.
It marked just the third ATP Masters 1000 final to feature two unseeded players.
“I want to thank someone without whom I wouldn’t be here, that person is obviously Arthur,” said Vacherot as he accepted his trophy.
“It’s completely mad, I can’t believe it,” he added in French. “It would have been better to have two winners, but a whole family won today. What we did this week, it’s completely crazy, no one can take it from us.”
Rinderknech struck first in the match, breaking with a backhand in the third game after three unforced errors from Vacherot. That break proved enough for the 30-year-old to take the first set in an otherwise closely contested duel.
Watched by Roger Federer, the second set followed a similar pattern early on, with both players holding firm. Rinderknech faced a break point in the eighth game, saving it with an ace, but failed to hold after an unforced error into the net. Vacherot capitalised to force a deciding set.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the third, with Vacherot immediately earning a break in the opening game. The 26-year-old looked increasingly dangerous as Rinderknech, visibly struggling with the humid conditions, saved multiple break points in the third and fifth games.
After the fifth game, Rinderknech received treatment on his back, having faced four break points in that stretch.
A partial recovery led to tense rallies that energised the crowd, but Vacherot broke again in the ninth game to seal the match, collapsing in disbelief at his achievement.
Rinderknech had said after his semi-final win that there would be “two winners” on Sunday regardless of the outcome. The cousins sat side by side before the trophy presentation, with Rinderknech placing an arm around Vacherot’s shoulder.
Both players secured remarkable wins on their way to the final. Rinderknech defeated world number three Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, while Vacherot knocked out Novak Djokovic and world number 11 Holger Rune.
According to the ATP website, Vacherot is expected to rise from 204 to 40 in the rankings.
The emotional scenes during the ceremony saw both men in tears, with Rinderknech eventually needing help to a chair.
“I sweated everything I had, I gave it all, and that’s all that matters, and I really enjoyed my time on the court,” he said.
