2025 Rivalry: Valentin Vacherot VS Arthur Rinderknech | ATP Tour

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Showdown in 2025: Vacherot vs. Rinderknech

In one of the stories of the ATP Tour season, Cousins ​​suffered two defeats in 17 days

November 27, 2025

To mark the end of another exciting season, ATPTour.com presents our annual “Best of” series, which will reflect the most interesting rivalries, games, comebacks, upsets and more. This week, we’re taking a look back at the best games of the year.

Not even Hollywood can script what happens between Valentin Vaccello and Arthur Lindeknych this season.

They may be rivals on the pitch, but more importantly, Vaccello and Lindeknec are cousins. Their respective fairy-tale once-in-a-lifetime showdown in the Rolex Shanghai Masters final was one of the most incredible recent storylines in tennis, and they faced off again 17 days later at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Paris.

ATPTour.com looks back at this unlikely saga.

Shanghai finals, Vacherot d. Achyranthes 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
It’s safe to say that no one saw the final coming, including Vaccello and Lindeknec themselves. But despite the odds, the cousins, who were both former Texas A&M University players, met in Shanghai for the ATP Masters 1000 Championship in 2018. Vaccello came within two points of losing in qualifying for China but still managed to reach the main draw and beat five seeds in the semifinals, including record four-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Lindeknech also knocked down five seeds on the way to the finals. Vacherot came on to greet Vacherot after the Frenchman’s semifinal victory over 2019 champion Daniil Medvedev. As they looked ahead to the championship game, they embraced each other in excitement – laughing, smiling, even crying.

Vacherot, then ranked 204th in the world, ended his dream by becoming the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in history (since 1990). Despite Lindeknevich’s strong start, the Monegasque defeated his cousin in then-familiar fashion, coming back from a set down for the sixth time in his nine appearances in Shanghai.

“These are just some unreal moments for both of us, for our families,” Vacherote said. He later broke down in tears while praising his cousin at the awards ceremony. “Unfortunately, there was a winner. But our family won and the sport of tennis won because the story we just wrote was so great. After the match, the emotions were all over the place.”

Paris R2, Vacherot d. Achyranthes 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4
Less than three weeks after their meeting in Shanghai, Vaccello and Lindeknech met again at the Rolex Paris Masters, where they each received a main draw wild card. Both players were also present at the live draw ceremony at La Défense Arena, where brackets revealed the possibility of a second-round tie between the two cousins ​​- another storyline that immediately caught the attention of fans and organizers alike.

This time, it’s a second-round match rather than a high-stakes final, but nonetheless the intrigue surrounding the in-form family member remains. For nearly three hours, Vaccello and Lindeknech had several interesting rallies and battled for court position. Lindeknych saved two set points to win the opening match, but Vaccello came back with the confidence of a free-spirited player in Shanghai.

The difference is in the stressful moments. According to Infosys ATP statistics, Vaccello saved 11 of 13 break points against Lindekneich while creating 11 break opportunities and converting five of them.

“I think what helped me was that I had a lot of fun. It was new for me,” Vaccello, who reached the quarterfinals in Paris, told Tennis Channel after the win. “I’m performing on the big stage now. Now is not the time for me to feel pressure. That’s where I want to be.”

Valentin Vacherot signs “I love my family” after defeating Arthur Rinderknech in Paris. ” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2025/11/20/15/22/vacherot-camer-lens.jpg”>
_{^{Valentin Vacherot writes “I love my family” after defeating Arthur Rinderknech in Paris. Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images}}