Valentin Vacherot made a strong return to the Shanghai Masters on Saturday 10th October, defeating Argentinian Sebastián Báez 6-4, 7-6(5) to move forward in the tournament.
Currently ranked world No. 14, Vacherot secured this victory in under ninety minutes, building off his strong run at the Japan Open, where he reached the semifinals.
Vacherot took control early, securing a 6-4 advantage before facing a more difficult second set. Báez pushed the set into a tie-break, but Vacherot remained composed to claim the tie-break 7-5, ending the match in straight sets.
VACHEROT CONTINUES STRONG RUN
The victory comes only five days after Vacherot’s semifinal appearance in Tokyo, where he was defeated by Czech player Jiri Lehecka. During that Tokyo run, Vacherot also recorded victories over Alexander Blockx, former world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Arthur Fils.
This victory in Shanghai builds on that momentum, following Vacherot’s key role in Monaco’s Davis Cup victory over Finland in September before beginning the Asian swing of the tour.
TITLE DEFENCE CONTINUES AGAINST TOMMY PAUL
Vacherot returns to Shanghai as the defending champion following his historic victory in 2025. He will now face American Tommy Paul, currently ranked world No. 18, on Monday 12th October. A victory in this match would send Vacherot into the fourth round, where he could potentially face world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz.
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Photo source: ATP Tour