Monaco’s overnight sensation Valentin Vacherot cemented his place in the history books on Sunday after winning a historic Shanghai Masters title.
Vacherot became the third qualifier to win a Masters 1000 title in tennis history, and the lowest-ranked to do so.
He is the first Monegasque player to win an ATP Tour title, and will rise from 204 to 40 in the rankings as a result of his victory.
As a result, he is now unquestionably Monaco’s greatest ever male player, ahead of Jean Rene Lisnard and Benjamin Balleret.
Balleret, who is now the coach of Vacherot, reflected on his player’s victory in Shanghai, discussing the long journey he has shared with the new Shanghai champion.
Benjamin Balleret was concerned about Vacherot’s maturity and physical fitness early in his career
Speaking to the media after Vacherot’s 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over cousin Arthur Rinderknech, Balleret revealed the concerns he had for Vacherot when the star was 18 years old.
Balleret and Vacherot, who are half-brothers, have worked together since 2021 following the conclusion of Vacherot’s college career at Texas A&M.
Ballaret said: “Yeah, actually when Val was turned 18 he had a couple choices to make. He wanted to be a professional tennis player, but he was not mature enough in the head, and also in the fitness. He was so skinny. He was not developed physically.
“The family, we discussed it, and we advised him to go to America to college. To learn about tennis, to practice, you know, to have a great coach with Steve Denton.
“So he listened to us, because in my mind it was, okay, he’s going to go to futures, he’s going lose. Even if I help him, it’s going to take years for him to develop to be able to reach the top 100 or the top 50. That was my feeling and my idea about Val.
“So he went to Texas. I did my coaching career. I started with, had the chance to start with amazing player Gilles Muller, who believe in me at the time. And we did two and a half years, amazing.
“I learned, I mean, coaching you learn every day. You don’t learn two years and then you are the great coach. It was amazing with Gilles.
“Then with Pierre-Hugues [Herbert] we had almost five years and it was again great. He’s an amazing person, but I also learned a lot.
“I always had in mind that, and also Val, when he’s coming back to college, if he still wants to be a pro, then he wanted me to help him, and I wanted also to help him because he’s my brother.
“And I think that doesn’t matter. I mean, if you have the best quality or not, if you really work, and you want it so much, then you have to go all the way. It doesn’t matter if you reach your, if you reach the 200 spot or the top 50, if you want to go, you go full to reach your full potential.
“You never know what can happen. If you are 200, then you can be 150. If you are 150, then you can be 100. Just always put another goal, another goal.
“So, yeah, at the end, he came back summer of 2021. We went from there, from zero. It’s also why you see so much emotion today.
“Because it’s a long way and sometimes you lose a little bit faith, you know. Bad losses, you know. It’s difficult emotionally because it’s family, you know, it’s not only a player you work with, which is already difficult because, I mean, you want it so much.
“But when it’s your brother, it’s even more. So there were some ups and downs. To be here in front of you guys today as Val is a Masters 1000 champion, it’s just unbelievable.”
Benjamin Balleret discusses the reaction in Monaco
Balleret also discussed the reaction in Monaco following Vacherot’s historic success.
During the same press conference, he said: “I don’t know. I’m here with you. I will get some videos, for sure, from friends about what happened in Monaco. When we come back we will see. Right now I just know, because some friends told me, that it’s crazy in Monaco.
“That’s also why I think Val won this tournament. Because Val is someone who loves his country so much. Okay, family, country, you know. Growing during the week, all the messages he get, all the love he get from the country, for sure, a hundred percent help him winning matches.
“Because you can see, he’s winning 6-4 in the third, three hours, and he keep believing also because he has all his country behind him. As I say, it’s not one thing, it’s a million little things and it’s Monaco is part of those little things.”
The reaction in Monaco is understandable. After all, Vacherot is the country’s first winner of an ATP Tour title.
Vacherot is agonisingly close to securing a seeded spot for the Australian Open next year. However, his best hope of gaining more ATP points would be at the Paris Masters, which he has not qualified for.
Therefore, Vacherot will have to hope the tournament organisers offer him a wildcard spot.
