Vacherot Triumphs Over Cousin Rinderknech at Paris Masters

Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot secured a dramatic victory over his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, at the Paris Masters on October 25, 2023. Vacherot won the match with a score of 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4, advancing to the last 16 of the tournament. This encounter marked their second meeting in a Masters event this month, following Vacherot’s exceptional performance in Shanghai.

Vacherot’s recent success has propelled him into the spotlight. He became the lowest-ranked player at 204 to win an ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, which elevated him to 40th in the world rankings. The match at the Paris La Defense Arena was a tense affair, lasting nearly three hours. Vacherot acknowledged that the familial rivalry added pressure to the match.

“I felt more tension than yesterday,” Vacherot said, referring to his earlier straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka. “Was it because it’s Arthur in front of me? Maybe. It’s easier to start a match against players that I know less well.”

Both players struggled with nerves during the opening set, leading to a tense tiebreak. Vacherot had two set points but ultimately lost the set 11-9. The pressure intensified as he faced three break points at 0-40 in the final set. Despite the challenges, he managed to recover and fired 32 winners, capitalizing on Rinderknech’s unforced errors to secure the win.

Rinderknech reflected on the match, noting the differences from their earlier encounter in Shanghai. “It was completely different,” he said. “There wasn’t much missing, actually, in terms of offensiveness and winners. He deserves his victory.”

As Vacherot progresses in the tournament, all eyes will be on him to see if he can continue his impressive form. The win not only highlights his growing prowess on the ATP tour but also underscores the unique dynamic of family competition in professional sports.