Fans Slam John Isner for Claiming Vacherot Valentin’s Shanghai Masters Run Was More Impressive Than Emma Raducanu’s US Open Win- “Ridiculous View”

Both Valentin Vacherot and Emma Raducanu won their first titles of their respective careers after playing the qualifying rounds. Raducanu was just a teenager when she shocked the entire tennis world by beating Leylah Fernandez in the 2021 US Open final, en route to which, she didn’t drop a single set.

Vacherot, the 26-year-old Monegasque, had won just one tour-level match before entering Shanghai as an alternate. And thanks to some withdrawals, he got the chance to play the qualifying rounds.

Before completing the fairytale by going past his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final, Vacherot eliminated five seeded players, including 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Recently, during the Nothing Major podcast, former player John Isner compared the title-winning campaigns of Vacherot and Raducanu, saying the former’s was more impressive.

I think it is more impressive, yes. [For Raducanu] it’s a bigger story because it’s the US Open, but I think this is more improbable than what she did. I am giving it to Vacherot there. It’s just unheard of.

The win made Vacherot the first player from Monaco to lift a Masters 1000 title. He is also the lowest-ranked ATP player to win a title at this level since 1990 (started the tournament as a World No.204).

Fans criticize John Isner for calling Valentin Vacherot’s campaign more impressive than Emma Raducanu’s

John Isner’s comparison did not go down well with some fans, as they pointed out that what Emma Raducanu achieved was a Grand Slam record and that, too, at the age of 18. Some also pointed out that Raducanu took home the US Open without even dropping a set.

Check out their reactions here:

Sorry but how old is this Valentin before winning that title? Emma was a teenager when she won the USO without so much experience on tour. Oh STFU Isner!

— Laracroft13 (@AmaliaAmpeloqu1) October 16, 2025

Ridiculous claim. The best players weren't even there

— Steve Redfearn 🦉 (@SteveRedfearn2) October 15, 2025

No, don’t agree. If Vacherot gets a contract with Dior, then maybe you can compare them 😂

— DB (@dbdegn) October 16, 2025

Nothing is better than what Emma did that was extraordinary

— peter gorman (@petergorma27903) October 15, 2025

I think there is serious recency bias involved here. A qualifier winning a masters is not unheard of. A qualifier wining a slam is. Emma was 18 playing only her second grand slam event and hadn’t even won a match on the WTA tour. She won 10 matches and Vacherot 9.

— Mavis (@MavisTennis) October 15, 2025

Emma was 18 and had just finished school. She was a rookie and a qualifier who won without losing a set. A Slam. Bigger than a 28 year old qualifier winning a Masters irrespective of who they faced . You can only play who is in front of you .

— Veronica Kropf. NO DMS (@VeronicaHoungan) October 15, 2025

People are so twisted when it comes to Raducanu. She won a slam. Her win as a qualifier >>>

— Prerana K (@Prey_bhatt) October 15, 2025

I’m not even Emma fan but this is one the most outrageously ridiculous view ever. Isner talking with his butt in his mouth as usual.

— Kevin Darvish (@ElDiablooo66) October 16, 2025

Since that fairytale run, the Brit hasn’t yet won another title. Raducanu, in fact, hasn’t reached another tour-level final since that win.

She was last seen in action at the Ningbo Open, where Zhu Lin knocked her out in three sets in the quarterfinals. She was dealing with dizziness while clashing with Ann Li in her opening round of the Wuhan Open and eventually handed the walkover to the American.

Despite not feeling completely fit, the former World No.10 chose to play in Ningbo. Raducanu was next scheduled to play at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and the Hong Kong Open, but she has instead decided to end her season.

Steve Johnson picks Emma Raducanu over Valentin Vacherot

During the same podcast, Steve Johnson disagreed with Isner as he left it to time to decide whose run between Raducanu and Vacherot was better. Johnson also warned Vacherot that not winning matches could once again take him outside of the top 200.

I think time will tell. Raducanu has still been good. She has not won any titles, but at least she has been relevant.

The next is the Paris Masters, where Vacherot has never played before. Prior to Shanghai, the only time the World No.40 won an ATP match was in the first round of this year’s Monte Carlo Masters.

This guy gets to 40 and he is going to be in all these ATP Tournaments next year, but if he doesn’t win any matches, he goes to Shanghai and drops back to 300 last year. Then you are like, ‘That was the craziest thing for one week, this guy got hotter and got a title. ’

Steve Johnson added

Vacherot is now a World No.40 player. Before entering Shanghai, he had never been a part of the top 100. Raducanu, on the other hand, now stands in the 29th spot with 1,563 points. Because she has ended her season, she is expected to drop in the rankings table.

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