Valentin Vacherot relishing start of 'second career' after surprise Shanghai win
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Monaco's Valentin Vacherot celebrates his victory against France’s Arthur Rinderknech during the final at the Shanghai Masters.
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PARIS – Shanghai champion Valentin Vacherot said on Tuesday he was ready to start a “second career” after receiving a wild card for the ATP Basel tournament, and submitting a request to enter the main draw at the Paris Masters days after his surprise win in China.
“Thanks to a wild card spectators will have the opportunity to see one of the biggest sensations of the season,” organisers of the Swiss indoor tournament scheduled for Oct 20-26 announced.
On Sunday, Vacherot beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech to win the Shanghai Masters, becoming at world No. 204 the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP 1000 tournament.
Paris Masters director Cedric Pioline confirmed that the 26-year-old Monegasque, now ranked 40th, had submitted an invitation request for the tournament in the French capital which starts on Oct 27.
“It would be a dream for me. Less than two weeks ago, I didn’t think I’d be playing Paris-Bercy at all,” Vacherot said after a ceremony in his honour attended by Prince Albert at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
“I thought I’d be playing in Asian challengers like I’m used to, after Shanghai. But no, finding myself at this new La Defense venue would be crazy for me.”
The Paris Masters will debut in its new La Defense Arena home, with the vast showpiece court second only in size terms to the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium on the current global circuit.
Vacherot did not have a ranking that would allow him to directly enter the main draw in Basel, nor the ninth and final Masters 1000 of the season, when the list of participants was finalised.
“Two weeks ago, with all due respect, not many people knew him,” said Pioline, himself a former world No. 5.
“Now, I think he has a name that speaks, that’s in the news, he’s identifiable, in addition to having made a stratospheric leap in the ATP rankings.”
His victim in the Shanghai final, his French cousin Rinderknech, “will also need an invitation” to directly enter the main draw, Pioline pointed out.
In addition to the four wild cards for the main draw the French Tennis Federation (FFT) also plans to award four invitations to the qualifiers on Oct 25 and 26.
“This changes everything in my career,” continued Vacherot of his first title.
“You could say I’m starting a second career, even though I’m not complaining at all about the first half. I’m really going to play in all the tournaments I want, right into the main draw.
“What’s great is that this title comes very close to the end of the season. So the last few tournaments will be the cherry on the cake.
“I’ll be able to enjoy myself afterward, with a little vacation, digest all this, and above all, take a lot of time to prepare for 2026, because it’s going to demand even more of me.” AFP
