TENNIS – Monaco’s world number 204 Valentin Vacherot completed a fairytale run at the Shanghai Masters yesterday, rallying from a set down to defeat his cousin, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the final and secure his first ATP title.
The 26-year-old’s victory made him the first player from Monaco to win an ATP singles title and set a record as the lowest-ranked player to triumph at an ATP Masters 1000 event.
The victorious Vacherot was overwhelmed with emotion, before sharing a heartfelt embrace with his older cousin Rinderknech, 30.
Lifting the trophy in Shanghai will see him pocket over $1.12 million.
Vacherot’s remarkable run to the title also means he will be ranked world number 40 today while Rinderknech, ranked 54th, is set to rise into the top 40.
French Open champion Coco Gauff captured her third WTA 1000 title and first in Wuhan after rallying from two breaks down in the second set to defeat fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-4 7-5.
Current world number three Gauff, also a former US Open champion, is the second American to win the Wuhan title since Venus Williams in 2015.
&uuid=(email))