Rivalries of 2025: Valentin Vacherot vs. Arthur Rinderknech | ATP Tour

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Rivalries of 2025: Vacherot vs. Rinderknech

Cousins confronted off twice throughout 17 days in one of many tales of the ATP Tour season

November 27, 2025

To mark the tip of one other thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Best Of’ series, which is able to replicate on probably the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and extra. This week, we’re taking a look at the very best rivalries of the yr.

Not even Hollywood may script what unfolded this season between Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech.

They could be opponents on courtroom, however Vacherot and Rinderknech are, extra importantly, cousins. Their respective fairytale runs to a once-in-a-lifetime showdown within the Rolex Shanghai Masters remaining represented one in every of tennis’ most inconceivable current storylines, whereas additionally they confronted off once more 17 days later on the ATP Masters 1000 match in Paris.

ATPTour.com recaps the unlikely saga.

Shanghai Last, Vacherot d. Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
It’s secure to say no one noticed this remaining coming, together with Vacherot and Rinderknech themselves. However in opposition to all odds, the cousins, who in 2018 each performed at Texas A&M College, stood throughout the online for an ATP Masters 1000 title showdown in Shanghai. Vacherot was two factors from defeat in qualifying on the Chinese language occasion, but managed to make the principle draw after which went on to defeat 5 seeded gamers, together with report four-time champion Novak Djokovic within the semi-finals.

Rinderknech additionally downed 5 seeds en path to the ultimate. After the Frenchman secured his semi-final win in opposition to 2019 champion Daniil Medvedev, Vacherot got here onto the courtroom to greet Vacherot. They shared an emotional hug — laughing, smiling and even crying as they regarded forward to the championship conflict.

It was Vacherot, then World No. 204, who capped his dream run by changing into the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in historical past (since 1990). Regardless of a powerful begin from Rinderknech, the Monegasque edged his cousin in by-then acquainted style, rallying from a set down for the sixth time throughout his 9 Shanghai matches.

“It was just a few unreal moments for each of us, for our household,” stated Vacherot, who was later in tears as he praised his cousin on the trophy ceremony. “Sadly, there was one winner. However our household gained, and the game of tennis gained as effectively, as a result of the story we simply wrote is wonderful. The feelings have been simply in all places after the match.”

Paris R2, Vacherot d. Rinderknech 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4
Lower than three weeks after their Shanghai conflict, Vacherot and Rinderknech encountered one another once more on the Rolex Paris Masters, the place they every acquired a main-draw wild card. Each gamers have been additionally current on the stay draw ceremony at La Défense Area, the place the bracket revealed the potential for a second-round assembly between the 2 cousins — one other storyline that instantly caught the eye of followers and organisers alike.

This time, it was a second-round conflict as a substitute of a high-stakes remaining, however nonetheless, intrigue remained across the in-form members of the family. Throughout almost three hours, Vacherot and Rinderknech engaged in a number of entertaining rallies and battled for courtroom positioning. Rinderknech saved two set factors to seize the opener, however Vacherot, brimming with the free-swinging confidence from his Shanghai run, got here roaring again.

The distinction was within the stress moments. Vacherot fended off 11 of the 13 break factors he confronted in opposition to Rinderknech, whereas creating 11 of his personal break alternatives and changing 5, in line with Infosys ATP Stats.

“I feel what’s serving to me is that I’m having a lot enjoyable. That is all new to me,” Vacherot, who went onto attain the Paris quarter-finals, informed Tennis Channel after the win. “I’m enjoying on the large stage now. It’s not now once I ought to be feeling stress. That’s the place I wish to be.”

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