In a match straight out of a sports movie 🎥, World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot scripted tennis history Sunday by defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the Shanghai Masters – becoming the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion ever! 🏆
A Family Affair on the Court 🏆
The all-cousin final saw Monaco's Vacherot and France's 54th-ranked Rinderknech battle through grueling humidity and tension. 'It's a fairytale,' said Vacherot's coach (and half-brother!) Benjamin Balleret, as the underdog claimed Monaco's first ATP Tour title.
Federer Watches History Unfold 👀
With tennis legend Roger Federer in attendance 👑, the 26-year-old qualifier staged a dramatic comeback after dropping the first set. Rinderknech, 30, initially dominated with precision backhands, but Vacherot's relentless play in the clutch moments turned the tide.
The decider had fans on edge 🤯 as Vacherot broke early and weathered his cousin's late resurgence before sealing victory with an emotional collapse to the court. Talk about main character energy! 💥
