Two points. That is all that separated Valentin Vacherot from the exit in Rolex Shanghai Masters qualifying.

The world has marveled at the Monagesque player’s history-making run in China, where Vacherot, then No. 204 in the PIF ATP Rankings, became the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Masters 1000 history. But just how close was he to falling short of the main draw?

The 26-year-old has spoken plenty about needing withdrawals to get into the qualifying field at the tournament. But what happened in the second round of qualifying against Liam Draxl?

According to the Canadian, the former Texas A&M University standout barely survived their encounter and made a courageous shot to save what turned into a dream tournament.

“I was pretty close to getting him on the brink there. It was five-all in the tie-break and he actually hit a first-serve return winner,” Draxl told ATPTour.com. “I served and volleyed and he hit just a cross-court angle winner. Then he hit a big serve and got the breaker.

“I actually had break point in the third too, at 4-3, and he hit a huge serve, like 225 kilometres an hour out wide. So that was tough on my end too, but I knew it was a really high-level match.”

According to Infosys ATP Stats, in two hours and 48 minutes, only five total points separated the pair. Vacherot saved two of the four break points he faced, which proved critical to claw into the main draw.

"I thought to myself, ‘Yeah, he probably could win some rounds in the main draw’,” Draxl said. “I thought it was just a super high-level match out there. But for him to win it, it's unbelievable. Literally unbelievable."

Draxl summed up what happened after that : “Crazy run for Val.”

There was no thought of what could have been, though. Instead, Draxl was happy for someone he had known from college tennis. Draxl played for the University of Kentucky, while Vacherot competed for Southeastern Conference rival Texas A&M.

“It's great to see college tennis people doing well and particularly the SEC doing well. It was always such tough competition within our conference over the college years,” said Draxl, the World No. 118. “Playing Val so many times — having battles with him in college so many times — with Ben [Shelton] and so many other guys, [Adam] Walton. It was really such a stacked conference and so much good competition.

“I loved those days and it's great to see all these guys inside [the Top] 100 and doing great things. It gives me more belief that hopefully I can follow suit and crack that 100 mark soon.”