Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Valentin Vacherot of Monaco extended a family rivalry on Wednesday by overcoming his French cousin Arthur Rinderknech 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4 at the Paris Masters to reach the last 16. The contest at Paris La Défense Arena — their second meeting at a major ATP event within a month — lasted almost three hours and combined fierce competition with personal intensity.
Vacherot arrived in Paris off the back of a breakthrough title in Shanghai earlier this month. As world No. 204 he became the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP Masters 1000 event, a result that pushed him up to No. 40 in the rankings and raised expectations for the 25-year-old.
The opening set was fraught with nerves for both players, and Vacherot admitted the family matchup added pressure. He said the encounter felt different because he knew his opponent well and that familiarity increased the tension at the start of the match.
Both cousins held serve through the set, which was decided by a tense tiebreak. Vacherot had two set points in the decider but failed to convert them, allowing Rinderknech to take the set 11-9 as the crowd followed the tight exchanges closely.
Vacherot played more freely in the second set, improving his serve and baseline play. He secured an early break and kept control to win the set 6-3, gradually shifting momentum in his favour as he imposed his game.
The final set featured high-stakes moments. At 3-3 Vacherot faced three break points at 0-40 but saved them, then held and later broke Rinderknech to move ahead. He finished the match with 32 winners and closed out the victory 6-4.
Rinderknech praised his cousin after the match, acknowledging the quality of Vacherot’s performance and conceding that his opponent deserved the win despite a close contest.
Their previous meeting in Shanghai carried different circumstances, but in Paris the stakes — ranking points, national pride and family reputation — were heightened. The home crowd backed Rinderknech, yet Vacherot found key answers at crucial moments in longer rallies and more demanding conditions.
Vacherot’s rise this season, from a low ranking to a Masters title and now a deep run in Paris, has marked him as a rapidly improving player and drawn attention to Monaco’s presence in elite men’s tennis.
With this win Vacherot advances to the round of 16, where he will face tougher opposition as he seeks to continue his momentum at the Paris Masters.
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