To mark the end of another thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Best Of’ series, which will reflect on the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and more. This week, we are looking at the best rivalries of the year.
Not even Hollywood could script what unfolded this season between Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech.
They may be opponents on court, but Vacherot and Rinderknech are, more importantly, cousins. Their respective fairytale runs to a once-in-a-lifetime showdown in the Rolex Shanghai Masters final represented one of tennis’ most improbable recent storylines, while they also faced off again 17 days later at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Paris.
ATPTour.com recaps the unlikely saga.
Shanghai Final, Vacherot d. Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
It is safe to say nobody saw this final coming, including Vacherot and Rinderknech themselves. But against all odds, the cousins, who in 2018 both played at Texas A&M University, stood across the net for an ATP Masters 1000 title showdown in Shanghai. Vacherot was two points from defeat in qualifying at the Chinese event, yet managed to make the main draw and then went on to defeat five seeded players, including record four-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Rinderknech also downed five seeds en route to the final. After the Frenchman secured his semi-final win against 2019 champion Daniil Medvedev, Vacherot came onto the court to greet Vacherot. They shared an emotional hug — laughing, smiling and even crying as they looked ahead to the championship clash.
It was Vacherot, then World No. 204, who capped his dream run by becoming the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in history (since 1990). Despite a strong start from Rinderknech, the Monegasque edged his cousin in by-then familiar fashion, rallying from a set down for the sixth time across his nine Shanghai matches.
“It was just some unreal moments for both of us, for our family,” said Vacherot, who was later in tears as he praised his cousin at the trophy ceremony. “Unfortunately, there was one winner. But our family won, and the sport of tennis won as well, because the story we just wrote is amazing. The emotions were just everywhere after the match.”
Paris R2, Vacherot d. Rinderknech 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4
Less than three weeks after their Shanghai clash, Vacherot and Rinderknech encountered each other again at the Rolex Paris Masters, where they each received a main-draw wild card. Both players were also present at the live draw ceremony at La Défense Arena, where the bracket revealed the potential for a second-round meeting between the two cousins — another storyline that immediately caught the attention of fans and organisers alike.
This time, it was a second-round clash instead of a high-stakes final, but nonetheless, intrigue remained around the in-form family members. Across nearly three hours, Vacherot and Rinderknech engaged in several entertaining rallies and battled for court positioning. Rinderknech saved two set points to grab the opener, but Vacherot, brimming with the free-swinging confidence from his Shanghai run, came roaring back.
The difference was in the pressure moments. Vacherot fended off 11 of the 13 break points he faced against Rinderknech, while creating 11 of his own break opportunities and converting five, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
“I think what’s helping me is that I’m having so much fun. This is all new to me,” Vacherot, who went onto reach the Paris quarter-finals, told Tennis Channel after the win. “I’m playing on the big stage now. It’s not now when I should be feeling pressure. That’s where I want to be.”
<img alt=”Valentin Vacherot signs ‘I love my family’ after defeating Arthur Rinderknech in Paris.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/11/20/15/22/vacherot-camer-lens.jpg” />
Valentin Vacherot signs ‘I love my family’ after defeating Arthur Rinderknech in Paris. Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images
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