Home SPORTS Shanghai Masters: Cousins Rinderknech and Vacherot Advance to Quarterfinals

Shanghai Masters: Cousins Rinderknech and Vacherot Advance to Quarterfinals

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Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot
Cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot make history at Shanghai Masters


French tennis player Arthur Rinderknech and his cousin Valentin Vacherot from Monaco make history by reaching the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters together.


“Our family WhatsApp groups are for sure buzzing a lot the last few days...”


Arthur Rinderknech and his cousin Valentin Vacherot are making waves in the tennis world, both reaching the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters. Their family WhatsApp group is abuzz with excitement, with Rinderknech joking it's “buzzing a lot.”


Rinderknech, ranked 54th, defeated world number three Alexander Zverev on Monday and followed up with a win against 15th-seeded Jiri Lehecka. Meanwhile, Vacherot, ranked 204th, became the lowest-ranked player to reach the last eight in Shanghai, defeating seeded players like Alexander Bublik and Tallon Griekspoor along the way.


The cousins, who attended Texas A&M University together, are thrilled about their simultaneous success. Rinderknech praised Vacherot, saying, “I'm not surprised. I'm really glad and happy for him.” Vacherot's coach, his half-brother Benjamin Balleret, added that the family is ecstatic about their progress.


Arthur Rinderknech, ranked 54th in the world, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters after defeating Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) on Wednesday. This marks his first time reaching the quarterfinals at the Masters 1000 level.


Meanwhile, Valentin Vacherot made history by becoming the lowest-ranked player to reach the quarterfinals in Shanghai, currently ranked 204th in the world. He continued his impressive run by defeating Holger Rune and advancing to the semifinals.


“Our family WhatsApp groups are for sure buzzing a lot the last few days,” laughed Rinderknech.


“It's really reuniting the family together... everybody is watching each other. So it's really cool.”




Arthur Rinderknech and his cousin Valentin Vacherot were teammates at Texas A&M University, where they spent two and a half years together playing tennis and building a strong bond. In fact, Rinderknech, who is two years older, even recruited Vacherot to join the university's tennis team. They were not only cousins but also doubles partners on occasion, creating unforgettable memories together.


“I said you need to follow me... I recruited him,” said Rinderknech.


After defeating Jiri Lehecka, Arthur Rinderknech celebrated his win by writing “I follow you, Val” on a camera lens, showing support for his cousin Valentin Vacherot. This heartwarming gesture highlighted the strong bond between the two tennis players.


Valentin Vacherot's journey to the quarterfinals has been remarkable, especially considering his struggles with injuries last season. He had to qualify for the Shanghai Masters and overcame those challenges to beat 27th seed Tallon Griekspoor. Vacherot's emotions were visible as he spoke about his tough times, nearly breaking down in tears.




Vacherot's coach, his half-brother Benjamin Balleret, has been a significant source of support. The family connection extends beyond coaching, with Rinderknech and Vacherot sharing a deep bond both on and off the court. Their success in Shanghai is a testament to their hard work and dedication.


“So much emotion just thinking of the tough times I had,” said Vacherot, on the verge of tears after beating 27th seed Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands on Tuesday.


“Just to share that with my coach, brother, my girlfriend - it's unbelievable and I'm having one of the best times in my life right now.”


Rinderknech said he had “always known what Val is capable of.”


“The toughest thing... (is) to be able to align all the planets... And that's what he's doing,” he said.


“I'm not surprised. I'm really glad and happy for him, for Benjamin as well... it's such a credit to both of them.”






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