The 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters has served up one of the most incredible and feel-good stories tennis has seen in years, capped by a final that went far beyond the sport itself. Valentin Vacherot completed one of the greatest underdog runs in ATP Masters 1000 history, capturing the Shanghai title over his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in a showdown nobody saw coming. The World No. 204 not only became the first Monegasque player ever to reach both an ATP Tour final and a Masters-level singles final, but he did it in the same week, on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

But while Vacherot celebrated, his cousin didn’t have it so easy. After the match, Tennis Legend took to X and shared a photo showing Arthur Rinderknech lying flat on the court floor as Vacherot delivered his victory speech. The post, hilariously captioned, “🤣🤣🤣Arthur Rinderknech has cramps. His cousin laughs,” quickly made the rounds online, perfectly capturing the mix of humor, heartbreak, and family pride that defined this unforgettable final. But that’s not all.

In another post on X, shared by RMC Sport, Arthur Rinderknech was seen sitting down with assistance as he battled painful cramps. The caption read, “😅 THIS IS CRAZY! Rinderknech with cramps during Valentin Vacherot’s speech. Arthur had to lie down on the court and is now being calmly massaged while his cousin gives his speech.”

As for his cousin, Valentine Vacherot’s road to glory was nothing short of inspiring. After coming through qualifying, the Monegasque stunned Laslo Djere and Alexander Bublik and advanced to the fourth round when Tomas Machac retired. That incredible run not only made him just the second player from Monaco ever to reach the Round of 16 at a Masters event, but also the second-lowest-ranked player in ATP Masters history to make the semifinals.

In the final, Rinderknech came out firing, breaking early for a 2-1 lead and storming ahead 3-1 to stamp his authority. Vacherot hung tough, saving several dangerous moments at 4-2 down when his cousin seemed poised to break again, but Rinderknech’s rock-solid serving sealed the first set with conviction. Now, even after his older cousin’s heartbreaking loss and painful cramps, the moment turned deeply emotional, as Valentin Vacherot was left in tears following Arthur Rinderknech’s touching tribute on court.

Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot’s emotional pact for more Tennis history

As seen in a post by Tennis TV on X, one moment in particular stole the hearts of tennis fans everywhere. With his voice thick with emotion, Arthur Rinderknech paid a heartfelt tribute to his younger cousin. “To Valentin, my love,” he began, his words echoing through the stadium. “Two cousins just gave everything. I’m so happy for you. I hope we’ll have more.”

The match stats told the story of Vacherot’s poise under pressure. He fired eight aces and racked up 12 winners over two hours and 12 minutes of battle. Winning 78 percent of points behind his first serve, the 26-year-old held his nerve even as Rinderknech pressed early and took control of the opening set. When the final point landed, Vacherot dropped to the court in disbelief, overwhelmed by the moment, before rising to share a tearful embrace with his older cousin. Then came a gesture that hit home for everyone watching.

After securing the biggest win of his career, Vacherot grabbed the camera marker and wrote a simple, powerful message across the lens: “Grandpa and grandma would be proud,” he wrote.

That family bond had been on display all week. Throughout the tournament, the cousins supported each other unconditionally. After his quarterfinal win, Rinderknech signed the camera lens with the message, “I follow you Val.” And when he toppled former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals, Vacherot was right there courtside, cheering him on. That said, could this unforgettable cousin showdown mark the beginning of a new chapter in Monaco’s tennis history?