Every now and then, tennis makes us realize that miracles are possible, and in the case of Valentin Vacherot, the adage “strike while the iron is hot” has never been more fitting. Vacherot was No. 204 in the world, and he did one of the greatest upsets in recent times when she beat Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters. Not many would have bet against Djokovic against a man with 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles on his record, but the qualifier snatched the miracle away, becoming the first Monacoan to make it to a Masters 1000 final. This win has made him a household name around the globe and predetermined what can probably be an epic achievement in his professional and financial life.

Earlier in Shanghai, Valentin Vacherot had already turned heads by stunning 10th seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals, a win that also secured him a top 100 breakthrough in the ATP rankings. Considering he wasn’t even in the qualifying draw just days before, sitting at No. 204, this was a meteoric rise. And then followed the match everybody will remember. The economic interests give another twist to the tale.

Before the Shanghai Masters, Valentin Vacherot had made a career income of $594,077, with $200,789 of that coming in 2025 alone. However, the Rolex Shanghai Masters is even more lucrative with a total prize money of $9,196,000, with the singles champion earning $1,124,380 and the winner 597,890. By reaching the final, he would earn $597,890, which is $3,813 more than his previous career total ($597,890 − $594,077 = $3,813).

And if he defeats his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, his career earnings would become: $594,077 + $1,124,380 = $1,718,457. For a qualifier, this is a life-changing windfall, but the money is only part of the story. Because the stakes go far beyond the paycheck.

Even Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, couldn’t hide his admiration. “You deserve it,” he said. “You played unbelievable. … Keep going.” At 38, Novak Djokovic remains a powerhouse, but illness during the tournament clearly affected his performance. To dethrone one of the greatest players in tennis history is breathtaking by a qualifier who happens to be a Monaco resident, and this is just the beginning of the historic career of Vacherot. And there is no end to the story.

After stunning Djokovic, Valentin Vacherot faces a family feud

Valentin Vacherot is also soaring to the top of the ATP list, besides his great victories. His qualifying wins have earned him 20 more points, which he has already earned by making the Shanghai Masters final where he will at least earn 670 points. Since he didn’t play this tournament last year, all these points are pure gain.

Starting the week ranked No. 204, Vacherot has jumped 146 spots to No. 58, and a win in the final would take him to 1,283 points, likely moving him up to around No. 52, one of the most impressive ranking surges of the season. But can he beat his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech? “It’s exceptional,” Rinderknech said after his semi-final win. “Even in our biggest dreams, we couldn’t have dreamed of reaching the final. It’s just amazing to be in the final of a Masters 1000.”

The story gets even better. Both cousins, who are currently ranked 54th and 204th, are going to ascend to the top 30 and top 60 after the Sunday final. The excitement is electric. It is always difficult to end the tennis season, and the players are fighting against fatigue, heat, and humidity, but this weekend in Shanghai has brought a story that goes beyond the conventional hardships.

Valentin Vacherot, returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined much of last season, took a gamble by traveling to Shanghai as an alternate in qualifying, and it paid off. Now, he and his 30-year-old cousin Rinderknech will face each other in a historic family final, a once-in-a-lifetime showdown that has captured the attention of the tennis world.