Magic for Monaco: Vacherot's storybook journey results in historic journey

Shanghai

Magic for Monaco: Vacherot’s storybook journey results in historic journey

Vacherot first participant from Monaco to seize ATP Tour singles title

October 13, 2025

It has been a memorable world-wind journey to the Rolex Shanghai Masters for Melanie-Antoinette de Massy, president of the Monegasque Tennis Federation, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and the Monte-Carlo Nation Membership.

De Massy arrived in Shanghai at noon Friday after a 20-hour journey from Monaco with Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters event director David Massey.

On Saturday, de Massy sat in Valentin Vacherot’s visitor field together with Massey to see her countryman defeat four-time Rolex Shanghai Masters champion and World No. 5 Novak Djokovic. Twenty-four hours later, de Massy was again in Vacherot’s field to see historical past being made because the 26-year-old rallied from a set right down to defeat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and change into the primary participant from Monaco within the Open Period to win an ATP Tour singles title.

“I’m so, so pleased with him and there is actually no phrases that come to thoughts to explain actually the sentiments all through the match,” stated de Massy. “He performed extremely effectively and the match was implausible. We noticed actually some wonderful factors, implausible tennis and I am so glad to be right here. I am so glad to reside this second with him and so comfortable to see this historic ultimate.”

De Massy’s telephone has been receiving nonstop messages from effectively wishers again residence in addition to interview requests. Avid tennis fan Prince Albert II of Monaco adopted carefully Vacherot’s historic run in Shanghai and was messaging de Massy earlier than and throughout the championship match.

Throughout the ultimate, de Massy stated she obtained a number of WhatsApp messages from Prince Albert II and afterwards he spoke to her together with Vacherot.

“We spoke for 10 to fifteen minutes after the match and he was so thrilled, then Prince Albert spoke to Val for about 10 minutes,” stated de Massy, who obtained near 100 messages after the ultimate. “He was very touched by Val’s phrases within the award ceremony and was pleased with Val’s outcomes. The Prince gave interviews to the native press and congratulated the work of the Federation. The entire nation is proud.”

David Massey and Melanie-Antoinette de Massy supporting Vacherot in Shanghai. Photograph: Rolex Shanghai Masters.

There was a watch social gathering on the Monte-Carlo Nation Membership with members and lots of the high junior gamers in Monaco. {The marketplace} confirmed the match at 10:30 within the morning on a large display that was organised by the Monaco City Corridor, comparable to what’s performed for the Components 1 race in Monte-Carlo.

“I turned on my telephone, however I have not actually watched something but,” stated Vacherot. “I am unable to wait to observe the movies, particularly on the Monte-Carlo Nation Membership. I knew they’d an enormous watch social gathering. As a result of it is Sunday, everyone seems to be off work, so I believe this most likely the day there may be the most individuals.”

Shortly after the ultimate ended, Vacherot draped the Monaco flag over his shoulders earlier than the award ceremony started. He mirrored on his historic achievement and what it means for his nation.

“Simply to carry the flag, and to have the ability to try this for my nation is, it is unreal, after all,” stated Vacherot, who climbed from No. 204 to No. 40 within the PIF ATP Rankings. “I am simply eager about our little federation, our little small nation, one of many smallest international locations on the earth. In all probability the smallest federation. Now we have such, now we have not many gamers, and now now we have one Masters 1000 in singles, two Masters 1000 titles in doubles with Hugo Nys — additionally one Grand Slam ultimate for Hugo within the Australian Open two years in the past — and what we get to attain for Monaco is unbelievable. I hope that we’re making everybody pleased with us, and I hope simply to maintain going.”

Nys is ranked No. 19 in doubles and has been a career-high No. 12 in June 2023. He gained his greatest title at ATP Masters 1000 Rome that 12 months and in addition was a finalist on the Australian Open in 2023. Romain Arneodo, a winner of two doubles titles this season, is ranked No. 45 in doubles after reaching a career-high No. 38 in August.

Earlier this 12 months on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in April, French-born Monegasque participant Arneodo made historical past by profitable the doubles title with Frenchman Manuel Guinard. Arneodo turned the primary Monegasque participant to win the Monte-Carlo doubles title.

“For Monaco it is completely extraordinary and we have by no means had a Monaco-born participant within the High 100 in singles,” stated de Massy. “We have had, as Valentin stated on the finish of his semi-final match — and I actually appreciated that he did that — is to remind everybody that in tennis there’s singles, however there’s additionally doubles, and now we have extraordinary double gamers. In Monaco we love taking part in Davis Cup as a result of we love being a staff, we love being all collectively and with Monaco Tennis Federation — and Monaco tennis as an entire really, whether or not it is the event, the federation, or the membership — is one large household.”

Half-brother and coach Benjamin Balleret instilled the assumption in Valentin that he would break into the High 100 after which take it to a better degree.

“Once we had been placing targets for Val it was not solely High 100, as a result of it appears slightly, like, ‘Oh, for some guys, we simply need to be High 100’,” stated Balleret, who ranked a career-high No. 204 in 2006. “No, it is like, ‘Let’s go. We need to be High 50, High 30’. You will have extra, much more ambition. So our function because the coach and all of the staff is to be behind him and to push him and to inform him that he believes that he could be a top-50 participant. As a result of I believe so many gamers cease believing.”