Valentin Vacherot, the rising Monegasque tennis player who recently stunned the ATP circuit with his Shanghai Masters title, shared his admiration for Jannik Sinner and his desire to face him on court. Speaking after the tournament, Vacherot revealed that he had anticipated a potential clash with the Italian star before Sinner’s unexpected withdrawal.
“I was thinking I would face him in Shanghai… And I was telling myself, ‘Playing against Jannik is the best thing that could happen to me,’” Vacherot said. “I followed his match with Griekspoor and his withdrawal, and I said to myself, ‘I’ll have more chances.’”
Sinner was forced to retire due to severe cramping during his match against Tallon Griekspoor, ending his hopes of finishing the year as world number one and opening the door for Carlos Alcaraz to claim the top spot.
A respectful connection off the court
Although the two players have never trained together, Vacherot described frequent encounters with Sinner in shared spaces during tournaments. Their interactions, though brief, have left a strong impression on the 26-year-old.
“We’ve never trained together, but we’ve been right next to each other. I often run into him at the gym, in the locker rooms… he’s a great guy, he always wishes me good luck for tournaments, even when I’m playing in Challengers,” Vacherot said. “I hope to play against him soon, it would be an honor.”
His comments highlight the camaraderie and mutual respect that often exist behind the scenes in professional tennis, even between players at different stages of their careers.
Vacherot’s breakthrough and future goals
Vacherot’s victory in Shanghai marked a major milestone in his career, defeating Arthur Rinderknech in a historic final between cousins. The win catapulted him into the spotlight and sparked conversations about his potential to challenge top-tier players like Sinner and Djokovic.
As he continues to climb the rankings, Vacherot remains focused on building consistency and earning opportunities to compete against the sport’s elite. A future matchup with Sinner would not only fulfill a personal dream but also serve as a benchmark for his progress.
Jannik Sinner in 2025
Currently the world no.2, Sinner played his last match on the 5th of October when he had to retire when playing against world no.27 Tallon Griekspoor in the 3rd round and the scoreline was 6-7(3) 7-5 3-2 .
Currently, during this year Jannik has managed to achieve a 43-6 win-loss record. Jannik has won 3 titles in 2025 at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. The Italian reached the final in Rome, French Open, Cincinnati and U.S. Open.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) after Vienna. The main draw will start on the 20th of October.
Valentin Vacherot in 2025
Currently ranked no.40 (career-high), Vacherot played his last match on the 12th of October when he beat world no.28 Arthur Rinderknech 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the final in Shanghai to win his 1st career title.
At the moment, during this season Vacherot achieved an overall 42-22 win-loss record. This year, Vacherot clinched 1 title in Shanghai. Valentin was the runner-up in the Francavilla Challenger.
He is also scheduled to play in Basel (Swiss Indoors Basel) on the 20th of October and Athens (Hellenic Championship) on the 2nd of November.
Jannik Sinner and Valentin Vacherot have never clashed against each other.