Shanghai Masters: Valentin Vacherot Advances to Quarterfinals with Thrilling Win

Monegasque sensation Vacherot beats Griekspoor, eyes Quarterfinal Glory

The Shanghai Masters has seen its fair share of surprises, and Valentin Vacherot's win over Griekspoor is one of the biggest. What's next for the Monegasque sensation?

With this victory, Vacherot booked his spot in the quarterfinals, marking a historic moment in his career...

Valentin Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world, has been making waves at the Shanghai Masters. He defeated 27th-seeded Tallon Griekspoor 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4, advancing to the quarterfinals of the prestigious tournament. This impressive win cements Vacherot's status as the biggest surprise of the tournament so far.

The 26-year-old Monegasque sensation has been on a roll, beating top players like Serbian Laszlo Djere, Alexander Bublik (17th in the world), and Tomas Machac (23rd in the world) to reach the round of 16 in Shanghai. Notably, Machac retired during their match. Vacherot's recent performances have seen him win against notable players, including Jan-Lennard Struff (49th in the world) at the Monte Carlo Masters and Nuno Borges (49th in the world) in the Davis Cup.

27th seed Tallon Griekspoor made a strong statement in his match against Vacherot, starting with a break in the first game and never looking back. The Dutchman's dominance on serve was evident, winning 20 out of 23 service points and securing the first set.

Griekspoor's Winning Streak

• Break in the First Game: Griekspoor's early break set the tone for the match, giving him a lead he wouldn't relinquish.

• Serving with Precision: The Dutchman's precise serving was a key factor in his success, allowing him to dictate the pace of the game.

• Building Momentum: Griekspoor's win has given him momentum, looking to build on his recent successes in the tournament.

Griekspoor's recent wins have been notable, including his first victory since July over American Jenson Brooksby and a walkover against top seed Jannik Sinner, who retired due to heat-related issues. Griekspoor's performance in the tournament has been impressive, and he'll look to continue his form in the next round.

Vacherot Fights Back

Vacherot came alive in the second set, starting with a strong service game where he won the first game on love. He continued to push Griekspoor, taking a 40-0 lead in the Dutchman's second service game. However, Griekspoor showed resilience, recovering to win the last five consecutive points in the game. After a tense battle, Vacherot forced a tiebreak and dominated Griekspoor 7-1, leveling the match and setting up a decisive third set.

Historic First ATP Tour Quarter-Final 🤯

Vacherot makes history for Monaco, defeating Griekspoor 4-6 7-6 6-4 to become the lowest ranked (204) player to ever reach Shanghai QFs!@val_vacherot #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/F7ZMrZbMU7

— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 7, 2025

Vacherot stepped up his service game in the third set, giving away just seven points from 28 serves. This strong serving performance allowed him to gain the upper hand, and he capitalized on his opportunities, breaking Griekspoor on love in the ninth game to seal the win.

With this victory, Vacherot booked his spot in the quarterfinals, marking a historic moment in his career. The 26-year-old Monegasque's win sets up a match against Holger Rune, who secured a spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a three-set match.

Late night tennis never disappoints 😍@val_vacherot #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/FUTcLAqcyu

— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 7, 2025

What's Next for Vacherot?

With this win, Vacherot will jump to at least 130th in the world rankings and faces Holger Rune (12th in the world) in the quarterfinals. Rune secured a spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Vacherot will look to continue his fairytale run and make history for Monaco.