Today, Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot made tennis history at the Shanghai Masters, rallying from a set down to defeat his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, in a final that was as emotionally charged as it was historic. The 204th-ranked Vacherot, who battled through the qualifying rounds, became the lowest-ranked player ever to win an ATP Masters 1000 title and the first to claim a tour-level singles title for Monaco.

Yet, the story that unfolded was far bigger than rankings or prize money; it was a family fairytale that culminated in a raw, emotional tribute from the runner-up to the new champion. The trophy ceremony laid bare the profound bond between the two competitors. As the reality of their shared achievement set in, both cousins were overcome with emotion, tears streaming down their faces.

As seen on Tennis TV’s X post, in a moment that captured the hearts of the tennis world, Arthur Rinderknech, with his voice thick with feeling, paid a heartfelt tribute to his cousin. “To Valentin, my love,” he began, his words resonating with everyone present. “Two cousins just gave everything. I’m so happy for you. I hope we’ll have more.”

This heartfelt statement really captures the special vibe of their final—a tough match on the court, but a strong family bond off it. Rinderknech had hinted at this feeling even before stepping onto the court, sharing with reporters, “Tomorrow night there will be two winners anyway. There’s going to be a match, of course, but today we won everything. Tomorrow between us, that’s all that matters.”

Valentin Vacherot, on his end, was just as touched, reflecting that same sense of family pride in his speech. “There has to be one loser but I think there is two winners today. One family that won and I think for the sport of tennis, the story is unreal,” said the Monegasque.

The ceremony was so emotional that Rinderknech, worn out from a tough week, almost couldn’t handle it. He ended up falling off the stage during Vacherot’s speech, which made the new champion stop for a moment to call for help for his cousin. Their final was more than just a match; it caught the attention of other tennis stars even before it happened.

For Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech, it was about to be more than just a tennis final

Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot really put in a ton of effort to make it to the Shanghai Masters final. So, the story wasn’t just about background or achievements — it was really about family, feelings, and the legacy we leave behind. 31-year-old tennis star Lucas Pouille shared his thoughts on the final match, saying, “The emotional aspect is going to be important. Playing a friend is special. But here, it’s not a friend, it’s his cousin, his family. One of the two is going to accomplish something that Gasquet, Monfils, and Simon didn’t manage to do. There’s a huge stake.”

Vacherot, who was ranked outside the top 200, showed up in Shanghai as a late alternate and really made a splash with an impressive run. He snagged a semi-final victory over Djokovic, 6–3, 6–4, becoming the lowest-ranked player to ever make it to a Masters 1000 final. In the meantime,  Rinderknech, who’s got a seed next to his name and a bit more experience under his belt, made it through a tough match against Medvedev (4–6, 6–2, 6–4) to reach the family final.

Pouille’s statement really highlighted that this tournament was about more than just winning a title; it’s a moment they’ll cherish forever. And that moment they had in the final is definitely something that both they and the tennis world will remember for a long time.