'A sick run can come any second': Text message behind the most improbable Masters win
Valentin Vacherot's victory at the Shanghai Masters is the story of the tennis season — a true underdog triumph that defied every expectation.
The 26-year-old Monegasque, ranked outside the world's top 200 at the start of the tournament, stunned the tennis world by winning his first career title.
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On his way to lifting the trophy, he claimed several unlikely victories, including wins over Holger Rune, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, and his own cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final.
His story proves that a life-changing, career-defining run could be just around the corner.
In fact, he saw this coming.
A private message he sent to a friend six weeks before the tournament has surfaced on social media, reading: "I'm gonna go take my chance in Shanghai Q's (qualifying) because a sick run can come any second."
He was right.
After losing in the qualifying rounds, Vacherot was given a second chance and entered the main draw as a Lucky Loser after replacing one of eight withdrawals.
He made the most of it, making history with one of the most improbable title runs the sport has ever seen.
"There has to be one loser, but I think there are two winners. One family won, and I think for the sport of tennis, the story is unreal," Vacherot said in the post-match trophy ceremony after claiming a come-from-behind three-set win.
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It truly is an underdog story for the ages — and one that has catapulted Vacherot to world No. 40 in the blink of an eye.
Remarkably, this was his first ATP main draw appearance since playing his home tournament in Monte Carlo back in April.
But, in another reminder, things can change rapidly; he now holds the record as the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 event less than six months later.
He also leaves Shanghai with more than A$1 million in prize money — more than double what he had earned in his career before the tournament began.
Vacherot's journey is an inspiration — not only for aspiring tennis players, but also for those grinding away on the Challenger Tour, wondering if their moment in the sun will ever come.
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