Post by : Maya Rahman

Valentin Vacherot continued his breakthrough season in Paris on Wednesday, defeating his French cousin Arthur Rinderknech 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4 to move into the last 16 at the Paris Masters. The match at Paris La Défense Arena, lasting close to three hours, was a tightly contested chapter in an emerging family rivalry on the ATP Tour.

Vacherot arrived in Paris on the back of a stunning win in Shanghai earlier this month, where he became the lowest-ranked player to capture an ATP Masters 1000 title while ranked No. 204. That triumph lifted him into the top 50 and has clearly boosted his self-belief as he faces higher-calibre opposition.

The opening set was nervy for both men, with familiarity between the cousins adding an emotional edge. Vacherot admitted the match carried extra pressure compared with a typical tour encounter, noting that facing a close relative made the start more tense than usual.

Both players held serve through long games and the set was decided by an intense tiebreak. Vacherot squandered two set points in the breaker, allowing Rinderknech to take it 11-9 and claim the first set after a series of powerful rallies and big serves from both sides.

Once the second set began, Vacherot steadied his game. His serve gained reliability and his groundstrokes settled, enabling him to break early and control the set to win 6-3. He gradually took the initiative, shifting from a reactive to a more assertive approach.

The final set produced several pivotal moments. At 3-3, Vacherot faced three break points at 0-40 but saved them with a combination of accurate serving and aggressive shot choices. That escape proved decisive: he held on and later secured the crucial break, finishing the match 6-4 while recording 32 winners.

Rinderknech acknowledged his cousin's performance after the encounter, conceding that the match was different from their earlier meeting in Shanghai and that Vacherot deserved the win. His comments underlined the mutual respect between the two competitors despite the disappointment of defeat.

The contrast between Paris and Shanghai was notable: Paris' slower conditions forced longer exchanges and tested endurance, while Shanghai’s conditions had favoured faster points. Nevertheless, Vacherot’s resilience across both events has marked him as one of the season’s most eye-catching players.

With this win, the 25-year-old advances to the last 16 and will face tougher opposition as the tournament progresses. Regardless of how far he goes in Paris, Vacherot’s recent results—from a surprise Masters title to this deeper run—have cemented his rising status on the ATP circuit.

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