Vacherot on 'crazy' Shanghai run, Federer impact & Top 50 breakthrough

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Vacherot on 'crazy' Shanghai run, Federer impact & Top 50 breakthrough

Vacherot defeated cousin Rinderknech in three sets

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Valentin Vacherot becomes the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 titlist in history (since 1990) on Sunday in Shanghai. By Sam Jacot

It was a fortnight to remember and one that will take time to truly process.

Valentin Vacherot's stunning title run at the Rolex Shanghai Masters stands as one of the most extraordinary stories, not just of this season, but in the history of the ATP Tour. Arriving at No. 204 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Vacherot surged from qualifying all the way to the trophy at the ATP Masters 1000 event in China, defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in a memorable final. Afterward, the 26-year-old tried his best to summarise his emotions.

“I don't even understand why I'm sitting here right now. It's crazy,” Vacherot said when reflecting on his achievement on Sunday evening. “I think I'm going to start realising in the next few days. Right now, I just want to enjoy the moment. I just got really, really emotional on the court after the ceremony, being up there with Arthur.

“It was just some unreal moments for both of us, for our family. Unfortunately, there was one winner. But our family won, and the sport of tennis won as well, because the story we just wrote is amazing. The emotions were just everywhere after the match.”

Vacherot was outside the qualifying cutoff when the entry list was released, but moved into the draw after arriving in Shanghai thanks to withdrawals. He was two points from defeat in the second round of qualifying against Liam Draxl but survived.

He then eliminated Laslo Djere, Alexander Bublik, Tomas Machac and Tallon Griekspoor to become the first player from Monaco to advance to the quarter-finals at a Masters 1000. Stunning wins against Holger Rune and four-time champion Novak Djokovic followed before he beat Rinderknech to become the lowest-ranked champion in Masters 1000 series history (since 1990).

“When I landed here, I wasn't even supposed to play the tournament,” Vacherot said. “I took a little gamble to come play. I got in just a little more than one day before the start. The challenges were just everywhere. Even in the first round of qualifications, I was down 6-7, 3-4. I saved a break point when 3-4 down in the third in the second qualification round.

“Then saving break points against Bublik in the second round after being down in the first set. I won six matches from being down from the first set. So the challenges were just everywhere. I'm just so happy. So happy that I just cooperated with all that and to be even sitting here right now is surreal to me.”

Vacherot has climbed 164 spots to No. 40 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to crack the Top 100 and Top 50 for the first time on Monday. He also takes $1,124,380 in prize money with him, having earned $594,077 for his whole career before this fortnight.

“[I am] 40? Wonderful,” Vacherot said. “I still had the little goal before coming here to be Top 100 before the end of the season. I knew that it was going to take so much, because we know how hard it is to even win one Challenger. So I knew that if I wanted to be Top 100 before the end of the season I had to win a few.

“It's pretty crazy to say, but even this summer I had this tournament in my mind. I knew it was the biggest tournament before the end of the season that I would have my chance to get into with now the big draws in the qualifications. I knew I had a chance to get into it and if I wanted to reach my goal of Top 100 I had to do good here. Little did I know that's what I would be doing here.”

Vacherot upset former World No. 1 Djokovic in straight sets in the semi-final and then put on a show in the title match against Rinderknech. Among the thousands packed into a buzzing Stadium Court for the title match, one spectator stood out above all: Roger Federer.

“It was amazing to have him out there,” Vacherot said on Federer. “Whenever they were putting him on the screen, I think it was making more noise than after some of the great points we played. That's how amazing and great he is to the sport. I got to play Novak yesterday. I got to meet Roger today. I mean, even outside tennis, it's just a crazy week.”

Vacherot, who had earned just one tour-level win prior to Shanghai, made history on Sunday by becoming the first Monegasque player to win a tour-level singles title. The 26-year-old is proud of his ability to deliver for The Principality.

“I knew they had a big watch party," Vacherot said. "Because it's Sunday, everyone is off work, so I think this is probably the day there are the most people. And just to hold the flag, and to be able to do that for my country is unreal. I'm just thinking about our little federation, our little small country, one of the smallest countries in the world."

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