Jannik Sinner was beaten by Tallon Griekspoor at the Shanghai Masters as his hopes of finishing the year as the world number one evaporated.
Sinner was forced to retire with severe cramps against the Dutchman, and now Carlos Alcaraz should finish the year as the world’s number one player.
The ATP was arguably given a wake-up call by what happened to Sinner in Shanghai, but his early exit did at least allow someone else to claim victory in a 1000 event.
Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill watched the final on Sunday between Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech, with the two cousins locking horns for the title.
Cahill is set to retire at the end of 2025 and right now, there is no decision over whether or not he’s going to make a sensational U-turn and stay as part of Sinner’s team.
Darren Cahill sends Valentin Vacherot his congratulations
Even the most devoted tennis fans might have been forgiven for not really knowing much about Vacherot prior to the Shanghai Masters getting underway.
Now, however, everyone is aware of the quality possessed by the player who represents Monaco, and he’s jumped up to number 40 in the ATP world rankings.
Cahill posted on X: “An amazing effort. Well done to Valentin, and what a run/story by both finalists. Love these examples of perseverance and persistence. Great stuff.”
Vacherot was forced to come through the qualifiers to take his place in the Shanghai Masters, and the last week will be one that he looks back on with lots of pride.
Tennis needs success stories like Valentin Vacherot
With Alcaraz and Sinner sharing the last eight Grand Slams between them, it is crucial to see other players emerging victorious at the big 1000 events.
The ATP has a bit of a problem with two players dominating emphatically on the tour, and in the next few years, other players need to step up and start pinching some of the big titles.
Nobody is going to start suggesting that Vacherot can start winning Grand Slams, but after such a meteoric rise up the rankings, there is now a sense that he can trouble the top players.
Vacherot has completed a dream by winning a Masters 1000 event, and now, he will hope to get even more experience playing the big events in 2026.
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