For Rinderknech and Vacherot, it was a family affair and a dream final – Tennis Now
The 2025 Shanghai Masters final will be – rather improbably – a family affair.
Arthur Rinderknech joined his cousin Valentin Vacherot in Saturday’s final, beating former champion Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to create one of the most improbable finals in Masters history.
The cousins, who honed their skills nearly a decade ago at Texas A&M, will meet in Shanghai on Sunday in a high-stakes final.
“Even in your best dreams, you wouldn’t dream of this,” Rinderknech said. “I can’t even say it was a dream because I don’t think anyone in our family even dreamed of it.”
Believe it, it’s true.
“We’ve been through so much and somehow we’re the last two guys standing – it’s unbelievable,” Lindeknech added.
After knocking out Medvedev, Lindknech looked stunned on court and didn’t seem to know what to think or feel. Moments later, Vaccello, who was watching the game from the sidelines, walked onto the court and exchanged an unforgettable hug with his cousin.
Lindeknych struggled in the hot and humid conditions early on but found a way to get back into the match against the former world number one. He said his cousin inspired him to keep trying.
“I almost died after one set,” he said. “I was like, ‘You know what? Maybe I’m going to lose, but I’m going to fight like crazy so I’m going to tire him out tomorrow.’
“At least I’ll get Val started [a potential final with Medvedev] Lead physically. And then somehow I got a break, and another break…and somehow it worked, I don’t even know how. ”
The 54th-ranked Rinderknech has an 8-3 record against ATP top 20 players since June. He will also compete for his first ATP title and rise to No. 28 in the ATP live rankings. He is the fourth Frenchman since 2000 to have four top-20 finishes in the same event, joining Nicolas Escudé, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (three times) and Arthur Fels.
Earlier on Saturday, Vaccello became the lowest-ranked Masters finalist in history when he defeated an ailing Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 to become the first player in Monaco’s history to reach a major final.
This week he is ranked 204th, and currently ranks in the top 60 in real time.
