Valentin Vacherot picked up his first top five victory of the season by defeating Lorenzo Musetti in Monte-Carlo.
Vacherot’s breakout season in 2025 saw him win the Shanghai Masters and he has followed it up impressively this season.
The 27-year-old has reached two ATP quarter-finals, that have helped him reach a career ranking high of world number 23.
The star believes he is underrated on clay and he carved out a slice of tennis history by defeating Musetti at his home tournament.
Valentin Vacherot makes tennis history in Monte-Carlo
Vacherot became the first Monegasque player in tennis history to pick up a top 10 victory at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The star was impressed by his work against Musetti, but he believes fans don’t understand his capabilities on clay.
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Speaking after the match, he said: “If someone had told me that my first top five win of the season would be here in the night session on this center court I’ve been hitting on since I’m six years, (I’d say) nothing can beat that.
“Maybe people don’t know that I love clay. I grew up playing here before going to college where I learned to play on hard.
“I needed a set and a half to get on it in the first round. Now my clay-court game is back and ready to roll.”
Vacherot grew up playing on the site of the Monte-Carlo Masters since the age of seven, so he could have an added advantage at his home Masters event.
Valentin Vacherot’s section of the draw has flown wide open
After knocking out Musetti, Vacherot now has a real chance of making the latter stages of his favourite event.
Musetti was not the only seed to fall at the first hurdle, either, as Flavio Cobolli was stunned by Alexander Blockx.
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Alex de Minaur is the only seed left in Vacherot’s section, so if the 27-year-old provides another upset he will make semi-finals.
Vacherot plays Hubert Hurkacz next, who ended a difficult losing stretch with a victory against Fabian Maroszan in the last round.
Hurkacz has entered the Masters event under a protected ranking after his injury troubles throughout 2025.
