A Monégasque player could be the next star to break through at the elite level on the ATP Tour.
With the likes of Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev going out of the Shanghai Masters during the early stages, the opportunity has arisen for a relatively unknown player to emerge as a contender in China.
This player has defeated three seeded players in a row after entering the tournament through qualifying.
The 26-year-old, who faces Holger Rune next, has already made history at the event following his win over Tallon Griekspoor.
Valentin Vacherot is the lowest-ranked Shanghai Masters quarter-finalist in history
Ranked 204 in the world, qualifier Valentin Vacherot has become the lowest-ranked player to reach a Shanghai Masters quarter-final.
Vacherot, who was unseeded in qualifying, defeated Nishesh Basavareddy, Liam Draxl and Laslo Djere to qualify for the main draw.
He has since defeated three top 30 players: Alexander Bublik, Tomas Mahac and Tallon Griekspoor.
After the 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory over Griekspoor on Tuesday, the Monégasque star expressed his disbelief.
The 26-year-old told an ATP Tour spokesman: “It means everything. I don’t think I could really realise what I was doing this whole week and it kind of all hit me when I just won this match. I was just happy this whole week, but not through the roof and this one is unbelievable.
“So much emotion just thinking of the tough times I had last year, even this year. 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.”
“This is 100 per cent the reward, being on the bench six months last year [due to injury].
“Thankfully, I was able to play free since January. That was unbelievable. I had a nasty fall at Wimbledon in the [qualifying] first round, I was a few points from victory.
“I’m not going to lie, I thought I was going to be out a couple of months again. It was just a few weeks. Now this is the reward for everything I went through.”
Vacherot’s sharp rise up the rankings
As per the ATP live rankings, Vacherot has risen to world number 130 following his triumph against Griekspoor.
He has closed in on his career best of world number 110, which he achieved on June 24, 2024.
Vacherot will face top 10 star Holger Rune next.
The Dane has defeated Sebastien Baez, Ugo Humbert and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to reach the quarter-final stage.
