Back in 2018, Texas A&M University’s men’s tennis team endured a crushing 4-3 defeat in the NCAA semi-finals against Wake Forest. Arthur Rinderknech battled at No. 2 singles while his cousin, Valentin Vacherot, fought at No. 4, their matches unfolding side by side on that fateful day that marked the end of Rinderknech’s collegiate chapter. Now, years later, the cousins have rewritten history at the Shanghai Masters, turning that old heartbreak into triumph. And their rise, alongside fellow college tennis star Ben Shelton, has reignited global respect for American college tennis, a stage now pulsing with artistry, grit, and dreams fulfilled.

In a recent episode of Served, Jon Wertheim, co-host of Andy Roddick’s podcast, shared his powerful reflections on the soaring influence of college tennis, a movement gaining undeniable momentum after two journeymen, Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot, carved history at the Shanghai Masters. “This is a real win for college tennis,” he began with conviction.

Wertheim continued, tracing the deeper roots of this surge. “We talk a lot on this podcast. We talk a lot about tennis in general, about how college tennis is really becoming not just a viable pathway, but an advisable one. We talk about the success, the transitioning,” he added, emphasizing how the collegiate system, once seen as a detour, is now fast becoming a defining road to greatness.

The conversation soon turned toward two shining graduates who have already proven this path’s worth: Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro. “We talk about Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro. Here are two more college tennis players,” Wertheim noted, acknowledging their remarkable ascents from American universities to the world’s biggest courts. He also took a moment to spotlight the institution that shaped Rinderknech and Vacherot. “I want to give a special shout-out to the Texas A&M sports information director, who was updating their website so you could learn about this remarkable story as it unfolded in a variety of places, but it was fun reading about it on the college tennis website,” Wertheim added, his words painting a portrait of pride across both sport and academia.

For the two French cousins who now stand as finalists on the grand stage of the Shanghai Masters, their bond and beginnings trace back to College Station, Texas. When Arthur Rinderknech first arrived at Texas A&M, he faced an unexpected obstacle: ineligibility for his debut year. Yet, in that time, he revealed something more valuable than competition: character. It was never about individual glory for him; it was about the team, about unity in a sport often defined by solitude.

Fast forward to Saturday’s semi-final in Shanghai, where Rinderknech lost the opening set against Daniil Medvedev. As his career-best run seemed to near its end, his mindset remained selfless and strategic. Even in the heat of his own battle, Rinderknech focused not only on winning but on wearing down Medvedev, ensuring his cousin, Valentin Vacherot, might face an exhausted opponent in the final. That spirit of sacrifice and camaraderie is what once drove him at Texas A&M, and it’s what continues to define his journey today.

On the other hand, Ben Shelton’s meteoric rise has further fueled this renaissance of college tennis. A proud product of the University of Florida, Shelton dominated the collegiate scene, winning the 2022 NCAA Division I Championship and earning the ITA National Player of the Year award the same year. Remarkably, he broke into the world’s top 100 without ever leaving US soil, proving the strength of America’s college system.

Shelton’s path mirrors that of tennis legends before him. Even John McEnroe once walked this very bridge, representing Stanford University in 1978, where he not only captured the NCAA Championships but also the singles title, laying the foundation for his extraordinary professional legacy. Shelton, now continuing his finance degree online while thriving on tour, embodies the modern duality of the student-athlete, focused, fearless, and fiercely ambitious.

As the two French cousins now dazzle under Shanghai’s bright lights and Shelton electrifies crowds across continents, one truth rings clear: college tennis is no longer just a stepping stone. It’s a proving ground, a forge of champions. 

Valentin Vacherot emotional after cousin Arthur Rinderknech’s Shanghai tribute

Valentin Vacherot carved his name into tennis history at the Shanghai Masters, orchestrating a stirring comeback from a set down to topple his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, in a breathtaking final soaked in emotion and legacy. The 204th-ranked underdog, who fought his way through qualifying, became the lowest-ranked player ever to capture an ATP Masters 1000 crown, and the first from Monaco to seize a tour-level singles title. Yet, the triumph transcended numbers and records; it was a family fairytale, sealed by a moment that brought the tennis world to tears.

As the final ball dropped, the enormity of their shared journey took hold. The trophy ceremony wasn’t about victory or defeat, it was about kinship, respect, and an unbreakable bond forged on and off the court. Both cousins stood with tears streaming, united by pride rather than divided by result.

On Tennis TV’s X post, the scene went viral, a moment drenched in emotion. With a voice trembling yet steady, Arthur Rinderknech turned to his cousin and delivered words that echoed through the arena. “To Valentin, my love,” he began, his sincerity piercing the air. “Two cousins just gave everything. I’m so happy for you. I hope we’ll have more.”

It was raw, real, and profoundly human, a tribute that went beyond competition, capturing the very soul of sport.

Beyond college tennis, their shared journey stood as a celebration of brotherhood and grit.

And as tennis continues to evolve globally, one truth remains: with these two, and with Shelton’s rise, the legacy of college tennis stands strong, burning brighter than ever.