Shanghai
World No. 204 Vacherot continues ‘unbelievable’ run, reaches Shanghai QFs
The qualifier, who has defeated three seeded players, next meets Rune
October 07, 2025
Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Valentin Vacherot becomes the lowest-ranked quarter-finalist in Shanghai history.
By ATP Staff
Valentin Vacherot was on the verge of tears on Tuesday when he advanced to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
The first Monegasque player to reach a tour-level quarter-final in history, the qualifier Vacherot ousted Tallon Griekspoor 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 after a topsy-turvy, two-hour, 22-minute battle that ended 10 minutes shy of 1 a.m.
“It means everything,” said Vacherot in disbelief. “I don’t think I could really realise what I was doing this whole week and it kind of all hit me when I just won this match. I was just happy this whole week, but not through the roof and this one is unbelievable.
“So much emotion just thinking of the tough times I had last year, even this year. Just to share that with my coach, brother, my girlfriend — it’s unbelievable and I’m having one of the best times in my life right now.”
Vacherot entered the week at World No. 204, with just one career win at an ATP Tour event, having reached the second round of his home tournament, this year’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Thanks to his Shanghai run, Vacherot has skyrocketed to No. 130 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The 26-year-old, who hammered 40 winners against Griekspoor, is the lowest-ranked quarter-finalist in Shanghai history.
“This is 100 per cent the reward, being on the bench six months last year [due to injury],” said Vacherot, who has ousted three seeded players consecutively: 14th seed Alexander Bublik, 20th seed Tomas Machac and 27th seed Griekspoor.
“Thankfully, I was able to play free since January. That was unbelievable. I had a nasty fall at Wimbledon in the [qualifying] first round, I was a few points from victory. I’m not going to lie, I thought I was going to be out a couple of months again. It was just a few weeks. Now this is the reward for everything I went through.”
Vacherot will next meet 10th seed Holger Rune. When asked about his upcoming match, Vacherot said: “I don’t even know who I’m playing, I don’t look at the draw.”
Vacherot’s cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, is also still alive in the tournament. The Frenchman, who upset Alexander Zverev on Monday, will next face 15th seed Jiri Lehecka on Wednesday. Vacherot and Rinderknech both attended Texas A&M University, where they shared two seasons together (2016, 2017).
Since 2022, Vacherot’s half-brother, Benjamin Balleret, has been his full-time coach.
