World No 204 Vacherot defeats cousin Rinderknech to seal fairytale Shanghai win

World No 204 Vacherot defeats cousin Rinderknech to seal fairytale Shanghai win

Qualifier earns 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in final Becomes lowest-ranked player to win a Masters 1000 Valentin Vacherot closed out one of the most shocking big tournament runs in the history of professional tennis by becoming the lowest-ranked player to win a Masters 1000 title as he roared back from a set down to defeat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and triumph at the Shanghai Masters. There is little precedent for so many of Vacherot’s achievements over the past two weeks. At No 204, the 26-year-old had only narrowly entered the qualifying draw, where he was the second-lowest ranked direct entrant, due to a number of late injury withdrawals. He is also the third qualifier to win a Masters 1000 title in the 35-year history of the format and the first Monegasque player in history to win any ATP title. Continue reading...