Valentin Vacherot of Monaco (AP Photo/Andy Wong) World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot from Monaco took the tennis world by storm on Saturday, defeating an ailing Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals. The 26-year-old qualifier overcame the 38-year-old Serbian, who struggled with vomiting, leg injuries, and fatigue under 31°C heat and 62 percent humidity, to book a spot in Sundayâ€s final against either his cousin Arthur Rinderknech or Daniil Medvedev. “Iâ€m trying to pinch myself, is this real?†Vacherot said after his career-defining win. “To have Novak on the other side of the court was first of all an invaluable experience for me. I have a hundred feelings right now.†But who exactly is Valentin Vacherot? Tennis runs deep in his family. Born in 1998, he started playing at a young age and went on to play college tennis for Texas A&M University. Turning professional in 2022, he is coached by his half-brother Benjamin Balleret, who himself is the son of former players Bernard Balleret and Alexia Dechaume-Balleret. Tennis talent clearly runs in the family, as Vacherotâ€s cousin Arthur Rinderknech is also a former US Open pre-quarterfinalist. Vacherot first came into the spotlight by winning his maiden ATP Challenger title at the Nonthaburi Challenger in 2022. He made his Grand Slam debut last year at Roland Garros, becoming the first player from the Monegasque Tennis Federation to reach the main draw, though he lost in the first round to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Against Djokovic, Vacherotâ€s composure shone through. After Djokovic broke in the opening game, Vacherot immediately broke back. As Djokovicâ€s physical troubles worsened in the seventh game, requiring medical treatment and repeated stretches, Vacherot seized the moment, breaking again to take the first set with two aces. Despite a brief resistance from Djokovic in the second set, Vacherot held his nerve to serve out the match, denying Djokovic a chance at a fifth Shanghai Masters title.
This remarkable victory cements Vacherotâ€s arrival on the big stage and marks a career-defining moment for the young Monegasque, whose journey from college tennis to shocking one of the sportâ€s greatest legends will be remembered for years to come.
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.