Vacherot Advances to Paris Masters Last-16 with Win Over Cousin Rinderknech

Post by : Mara Rahim

Valentin Vacherot progressed to the round of 16 at the Paris Masters after overcoming his French cousin Arthur Rinderknech 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4 at Paris La Défense Arena. The encounter — their second meeting at an ATP event in under a month — stretched close to three hours and highlighted the unusual pressures of competing against a family member on a major stage.

Vacherot arrived in Paris buoyed by his shock triumph in Shanghai earlier this month. That breakthrough, achieved when he was ranked world No. 204, made him the lowest-ranked player ever to lift an ATP Masters 1000 trophy and helped push him up the rankings to No. 40. The 25-year-old carried that momentum into the French capital.

The opening set was tightly contested and emotionally charged. Vacherot acknowledged the added strain of facing a relative, saying he felt more tension at the outset than in previous matches and that familiarity with Arthur complicated the early stages.

Both players held serve through most of the first set and reached a tense tiebreak. Vacherot squandered two set points in the breaker, allowing Rinderknech to edge it 11-9 as long rallies and powerful serving defined the set and kept the crowd fully engaged.

In the second set Vacherot settled into a cleaner rhythm. He produced stronger service games and more consistent groundstrokes, securing an early break and closing the set 6-3 as his confidence visibly grew.

The decider featured a pivotal moment at 3-3 when Vacherot faced three break points at 0-40 but managed to save them all with precise serving and decisive shot-making. That escape shifted momentum; he held serve and then secured the decisive break, finishing the match 6-4 after producing 32 winners.

Rinderknech praised his cousin after the contest, conceding that the Frenchman had earned the win and noting the differences from their Shanghai meeting. His comments underlined the mutual respect between the two competitors.

While their Shanghai clash came during Vacherot's unexpected surge, the stakes in Paris felt higher for both men — ranking points, national expectation and family pride were all on the line. The home crowd backed Rinderknech strongly, but Vacherot’s resilience at key moments proved decisive in the slower, more physically demanding conditions at the Arena.

Vacherot’s season has been notable for its rapid ascent: from a low ranking to a Masters title and now a deep run in Paris, he has emerged as one of the sport’s most intriguing up-and-coming players. His performances have also drawn attention to tennis in Monaco, a country more commonly associated with staging high-profile events than producing top tour contenders.

With this victory Vacherot advances to the last 16, where he will face a tougher draw and higher-ranked opponents. His recent form suggests he is equipped to challenge further, and his progress will be watched closely as the tournament continues.