Arthur Rinderknech has chosen the match which he thinks is the best of his career so far after making a winning start at the Paris Masters.
Rinderknech reached the Shanghai Masters final earlier this month, where he lost to his cousin Valentin Vacherot.
After a breakthrough run that enabled him to break inside the top 30 of the ATP rankings, Rinderknech withdrew from his next tournament and has only just returned to the match court.
However, after winning his first round match at the Paris Masters, Rinderknech suggested that the Shanghai Masters was not the best moment from his career.
Arthur Rinderknech suggests the best moment of his career so far
Rinderknech reaching the Shanghai Masters final is not the only big moment of his career so far, and after beating Fabian Marozsan, 7-6(5) 7-6(4), he was asked about another big win he obtained earlier this year.
At Wimbledon earlier this year, Rinderknech knocked out third seed Alexander Zverev in a five set thriller on Centre Court.
Rinderknech also beat Zverev at the Shanghai Masters, but he has suggested that the Wimbledon victory was more special to him when asked about it in his post-match press conference in Paris.
“It was a very important moment,” said Rinderknech. “Probably the best tennis moment in my career for the moment. Or if it’s not, it’s one of the top three.
“Was it the turning point? Maybe playing against [Jannik] Sinner in Roland [Garros] was really a great moment. Even though I lost in three sets, I was able to see that I had value as a player.
“Then several things succeeded step by step. I feel I’m on the right track and I can do what I want to do the way I want to play and with the right people next to me.”
Arthur Rinderknech explains why he won’t watch Valentin Vacherot’s match
After playing each other in the Shanghai Masters final, the careers of Rinderknech and Vacherot have felt intertwined ever since.
This continued after it was confirmed that they could play each other once again if they both reached the second round of the Paris Masters.
Vacherot was spotted in the stands watching Rinderknech’s first round in Paris, but his cousin has confirmed that he will not be able to do the same due to his doubles commitments, but suggested his coach could instead.
“No, I have to prepare doubles with Giovanni [Mpetshi Perricard], so I will be warming up,” said Rinderknech. “Maybe Lucas [Pouille] will watch.
“Once again, this time I’m the first one to play and he has to follow suit. I prefer it this way, because it was tiring in Shanghai.”
If Rinderknech is to play his cousin once again, Vacherot will have to overcome a tough test and beat 14th seed Jiri Lehecka.
While in the doubles draw, Rinderknech and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will take on the Argentine pairing of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.
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