Home / Sports / Qualifier Vacherot Defies Odds, Secures Historic Quarter-Final Berth in Shanghai
Qualifier Vacherot Defies Odds, Secures Historic Quarter-Final Berth in Shanghai
7 Oct
Summary
- Valentin Vacherot, world #204, reaches first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal
- Overcomes 3 seeded players in Shanghai, including Bublik, Machac, and Griekspoor
- Emotional moment for Vacherot, who reflects on tough times and injury struggles
In a remarkable turn of events, Valentin Vacherot, a qualifier ranked world #204, has secured a historic quarterfinal berth at the prestigious Rolex Shanghai Masters. The Monegasque player's unbelievable run has seen him defeat three seeded opponents, including Alexander Bublik, Tomas Machac, and Tallon Griekspoor, in a thrilling two-hour, 22-minute battle that ended just shy of 1 a.m. on October 7th, 2025.
Vacherot's achievement is all the more remarkable given his struggles last year, when he was sidelined for six months due to injury. The 26-year-old has described this as the "reward" for the tough times he has endured, and the emotion was palpable as he reflected on the journey that has led him to this point. Vacherot's rise to the quarterfinals has been nothing short of extraordinary, and he has now skyrocketed to world #130 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
As Vacherot prepares to face 10th seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals, he remains focused on the task at hand, admitting that he is not even aware of his upcoming opponent. This unassuming approach has been a hallmark of Vacherot's remarkable run, and it will be fascinating to see if he can continue to defy the odds and make further history in Shanghai.
