Valentin Vacherot became the eighth first-time winner on the ATP Tour this season and the fifth player to capture his first title at an ATP Masters 1000 event when he triumphed on Sunday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Vacherot upset Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic en route to the final, before he beat cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final. The 26-year-old is the first player from Monaco to win an ATP Tour singles title.
ATPTour.com caught up with Vacherot to discuss the significance of his trophy run, journey to this point and much more…
What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
I thought my first title could be an ATP 250. But to do it at a Masters 1000 here in Shanghai — my first time in China, first time in Shanghai — I think this country will have the biggest place in my heart. It means the world to me.
Could you take a moment to acknowledge some of the key figures in your life and career who have helped you to reach this milestone?
A lot of people: Firstly, my parents. I play tennis thanks to them. When I was just out of the hospital, when I was just a few days old, they would put me on the side of the court and play. My brother and coach Benjamin, who has been taking care of me since I got out of college in 2021. Bernard Balleret, Benjamin’s dad, not my dad. He taught me how to play tennis from 10 to 18. The guys from the Monegasque Tennis Federation.
I want to thank Arthur, too. He was at Texas A&M and I didn’t think about going to another school, I just trusted him to join him there and get better. As you saw, we have gotten much, much better. Standing here today with him was surreal.
This is a milestone moment in your career. How will you celebrate this victory?
I have no idea. I can’t wait to go back home. This is going to be an amazing moment for everyone. To see my friends and my families and my parents, I will see them as soon as a I can. The season is not over, I still have some work to do. Once everything is finished, I will celebrate with my friends.
Playing your cousin in the final, the first time you played each other since an ITF World Tennis Tour event in 2018... How strange is it to compare that 2018 match to the experience you shared together today?
He was starting his career in 2018, one of his first ITF tournaments after finishing college. I was still in college. I was just wanting to train and went to a few ITFs and ended up playing him in the quarter-finals at one. That was fun.
Little did we know that the next time we would play would be here. I did wonder a little if I came back up in the rankings, when would be the first time we would play each other and our family would have a big laugh and a huge moment. To be in a final at a Masters 1000 final is amazing.
How would you describe yourself as a player, and how would you describe yourself off the court?
Off the court I am really calm, really down to earth. I am not someone you will hear much in the room. Not someone who speaks a lot. It is the little side of me that has helped me a lot on court this week in the big moments.
On court I am pretty energetic, putting all my energy on the court, in training and matches.
What do you consider to be your biggest passion outside of tennis and can you tell us a little bit about that interest?
I really enjoy sitting on the couch and watching Netflix. [I] play video games and I am a huge sports fan, watch football. [I] watch tennis if there are some of my favourite players playing or my friends. Football or F1, big moments I am watching. I will go on the beach a bit, walk around with my girlfriend.
