In a final that nobody saw coming, Valentin Vacherot completed one of the most improbable runs in recent memory, defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to claim the 2025 Shanghai Masters crown. His victory, after entering the tournament as a qualifier, makes him the first player from Monaco to win an ATP singles title, and the lowest-ranked champion ever in a Masters 1000 event (ranked No. 204).
This is more than an underdog story, it is a rewriting of expectations. With Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing due to an ankle issue, and Jannik Sinner retiring with cramp mid-match in earlier rounds, the men’s draw was left wide open. Vacherot seized the opportunity and turned it into a career-defining triumph.
A tournament transformed by withdrawals and retirements
The Shanghai Masters unfolded in dramatic fashion. Alcaraz opted out before the event began, citing concerns over his ankle, thus vacating the top seed slot. Meanwhile, Sinner, defending champion and one of the favorites, was forced to retire in the third round against Tallon Griekspoor after succumbing to severe thigh cramps in brutal conditions.
Their departures left a vacuum at the top of the draw, and many eyes turned to whether upcoming names or dark horses might seize the moment. Vacherot answered emphatically.
Vacherot’s road from qualifier to champion
Vacherot’s journey was nothing short of cinematic. He entered Shanghai ranked 204, just inside the final qualifying spots, and saw his chances of entry dependent on withdrawals. Once in, he won his qualifying matches and continued to upset heavyweights along the way, including a remarkable semifinal victory over Novak Djokovic.
In the final, his cousin Rinderknech claimed the first set, using experience and tenacity to seize it 6-4. But Vacherot stayed calm, ramped up his aggression, broke early in the second set, and never looked back. In the third, he held firm under pressure and broke again at a critical moment to close out 6-3.
That final moment came on a blistering passing shot winner down the line, a fitting flourish for a run built on courage, composure, and belief.
Significance, reaction, and what comes next
This title carries weight on multiple levels. Vacherot is the first Monegasque ever to win an ATP singles title. He is also the lowest-ranked player ever to lift a Masters 1000 crown since the format’s inception in 1990.
His ATP ranking will now jump dramatically (into the top 40) marking a career high. Meanwhile, Rinderknech also improves his standing after a memorable run to his first Masters final.
In post-match remarks, Vacherot himself was emotional and reflective:
“I have no idea what is happening. It’s just crazy,” he said, visibly moved. He called it a “crazy run” and paid tribute to family ties, saying this title felt like a victory for both of them.
For the broader narrative of the 2025 season, this result underscores how fragile the pinnacle can be. With Alcaraz out and Sinner struggling to maintain form, the year-end picture has shifted. Alcaraz still leads the year-end No. 1 race comfortably after Sinner’s early exit in Shanghai, but the gap has narrowed.
Looking ahead, Vacherot’s breakthrough raises myriad questions: can he sustain this level? Will he become a regular contender on big stages? For now, his name has been etched into Masters lore: a qualifier turned champion, defying the odds on one of tennis’s grandest stages.