SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Arthur Rinderknech of France celebrate with Valentin Vacherot of Monaco after winning against Daniil Medvedev after the Men's singles Semifinals on day 13 of the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters at Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 11, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
WhatsApp messages from family members are pouring in for Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot. That’s because the two are cousins – they went head-to-head in the Shanghai Masters finals.
Both Rinderknech and Vacherot won their respective quarterfinal matchups, advancing to the semi-finals, where the former beat Daniil Medvedev and the latter knocked off Novak Djokovic.
“First of all, I followed my cousin,” Rinderknech said after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday. “He was going through the emotions on Thursday, and I am trying to follow and battle and do the same as him. It has been incredible since the start of the tournament.”
A day earlier, Vacherot upset No. 10 Holger Rune, setting up Saturday’s duel against Djokovic. The Monaco native became the lowest-ranked player to play in an ATP 1000 semi-final since 1999.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
“This is just unbelievable,” Vacherot said after the quarter-final win. “I didn’t come as a qualifier; I came as an alternate. I wasn’t even sure I was going to play qualifying.”
“The whole family is following from home,” Rinderknech said on Friday. “We are in our little world here.”
In the end, Vacherot beat his cousin 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Joshua Báez etched his name into the MLB record books…
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first eight games…
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their 2026 preseason with a convincing 28-9 victory over the Green…
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza made an impressive first appearance in an NFL…
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman appears to have avoided a serious injury after…
Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has requested that the university return its copy of the…