Andy Roddick Explains What’s ‘Not Been Talked About Enough’ Regarding Valentin Vacherot’s Fairytale Shanghai Run

Valentin Vacherot defeated his cousin Arthur Rinderknech to win his career's first tour-level title at the Shanghai Masters.

Andy Roddick Explains What’s ‘Not Been Talked About Enough’ Regarding Valentin Vacherot’s Fairytale Shanghai Run

Andy Roddick, Arthur Rinderknech, Valentin Vacherot (Image via X/Univers Tennis, Served)

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Valentin Vacherot scripted history at the Shanghai Masters, where, to the surprise of the tennis world, he knocked out five seeded players en route to the title. In the final, his opponent was none other than his cousin Arthur Rinderknech, against whom he came from a set down to win the title.

The five seeded players that the ten No.204-ranked defeated were: Alexander Bublik, Tomas Machac, Tallon Griekspoor, Holger Rune, and the tournament’s most successful player, Novak Djokovic. Before this tournament, he had never reached the third round of a Masters 1000 event.

What’s more impressive about the win, as per former player Andy Roddick, was how physically well prepared Vacherot was. The 2003 US Open champion pointed out that the extreme hot and humid conditions even forced defending champion Jannik Sinner to withdraw from the match (Sinner gave the walkover to Griekspoor in the third round).

Do we remember that Jannik had to retire because of cramps the first three days or four days of that tournament of the main draw? All you heard was how extreme the conditions were. Like people, it was so hot. This guy… and this is a lesson for young players, for parents, for anyone that has anything to do with tennis, had he not been ready physically in shape, he would not have had this moment. So, the tennis is one thing. Preparation meets opportunity. You’d better be prepared when the opportunity presents itself. That has not been talked about enough, right?

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

It was for the first time in a Masters 1000 tournament that a player ranked outside of 200 won a trophy. Surprisingly, Vacherot had just one tour-level win before the Shanghai event, and the win also made him the first player from Monaco to take home a tour-level title.

Surprisingly, Vacherot entered the qualifying round only after the withdrawal of two players. He became the third qualifier to win a Masters 1000 title, following Roberto Carretero and Albert Portas.

Andy Roddick lauds Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech’s clash acts

Before the Shanghai Masters, the cousins, Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech, had never faced each other. Andy Roddick liked their conduct, saying both were aware of how important the moment was for tennis.

Vacherot Valentin, Arthur Rinderknech
Vacherot Valentin, Arthur Rinderknech (Image via X/ATP Tour)

Both of them, I think, fully understood the interest, fully understood the moment, class act all the way through. Rinderknech had to be. If you tell him that he makes a Masters 1000 final, he loses to a guy outside the top 200 in that opportunity. That’s tough, right? I understand it’s a big jump, but also that’s tough. He was a class act throughout the way. I cannot wait to see what happens with Vacherot next year.

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

Next year, Vacherot will enter the Grand Slam main draw without having to play the qualifying rounds. The Monegasque, in fact, will be seeded in the Majors as he now stands No.31 in the rankings table. So far in his career, the 27-year-old has played just one main draw match in Grand Slam events. Last year at the French Open, he lost in the first round to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. This year in Majors, Vacherot failed to progress to the main draws of the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. He skipped the US Open.

Rinderknech will continue his hunt for the first title of his career next year. Prior to Shanghai, the 30-year-old had never progressed beyond the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament. In Grand Slam events, Rinderknech produced his best when he reached the fourth round of this year’s US Open. He ended the season as the No.29 player.

Also read: Roger Federer Holds Optimism About Doing an Exhibition Tour With Rafael Nadal in the Near Future