A tennis player ranked outside the Top 200 in the world wins the Shanghai Masters after defeating his cousin in the final.

Valentin Vacherot, ranked 204th worldwide, delivered the biggest shock of the season by winning Shanghai Masters 2025, defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The world No. 204 achieved a historic milestone at the 2025 Shanghai Masters

Beginning the tournament as a qualifier, Vacherot created a fairy tale by becoming the first Monaco player in the Open Era to win an ATP event. Furthermore, he is the first player in history to pass through three qualifying rounds and the first since 2001 to win a Masters 1000 title.

"I can't believe what just happened. I'm extremely happy with my performance over the last two weeks," Vacherot shared emotionally after the match, "Today there are two winners – a family victory."

Before coming to Shanghai, Vacherot was ranked only 204th and had never reached an ATP final. However, he achieved the unimaginable by consecutively defeating several top stars, including Novak Djokovic, Holger Rune, and Alexander Bublik. This historic win makes him the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion ever, breaking Borna Coric’s record (ranked 152 when he won Cincinnati 2022). According to the latest rankings, Vacherot will soar to No. 40, while Rinderknech – despite losing – will enter the Top 30 for the first time at No. 28.