Incredible story of the tennis player who beat his cousin in a major final to rise 164 places in the world rankings

The world number 204, who beat four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, came from a set down for the sixth time in the tournament to win 4-6 6-3 6-3.

Rinderknech struck 12 winners and committed just two unforced errors on his way to winning the opening set, but from 3-3 in the second set Vacherot broke his opponent in consecutive games to lead by a break in the third.

A medical time out for Rinderkinech at 3-2 only delayed the inevitable as Vacherot, whose previous career earnings were £380,000, secured his maiden tour-level title and the winner’s cheque of £824,000.

“It is unreal what just happened. I have no idea what is happening right now. I am not even dreaming, it is just crazy,” Vacherot said on the ATP Tour website.

“I am just so happy with my performances the past two weeks. I just want to thank everyone who has helped with my career since the beginning.

“There has to be one loser, but I think there are two winners today. One family that won and I think for the sport of tennis, the story is unreal.

“I feel when I am down, I have no choice and need to bring my A-game.

“In the first set I didn’t do that and he was playing better than me. I took my first chance to break in the second set and from that the crowd got more involved and we put on more of a show in the second part of the match.”

Vacherot is set to rise up to No 40 in the world, with the money he collected for his win in Shanghai comfortably beating everything he had earned in his entire career up to this point.

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