Valentin Vacherot’s impressive run at the Japan Open came to a close on Monday as he fell to Jiri Lehecka in straight sets in the semifinals in Tokyo.

After consecutive victories, including wins over former world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas and world No. 9 Arthur Fils, Vacherot was unable to deliver another comeback as Lehecka secured a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

The two remained evenly matched through the opening stages before Lehecka found an opportunity to break Vacherot at 2-2. Although Vacherot had an opportunity to respond, he was unable to convert, allowing the Czech to protect his lead and finish the set 6-4.

Lehecka’s momentum carried into the second set as he took control early with a 3-0 advantage. Vacherot recovered one of the breaks; however, he was unable to complete the comeback before Lehecka reclaimed control to end the match with a 6-2 set.

This defeat marks the end of a strong performance in Tokyo for Vacherot as he overcame Alexander Blockx, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Arthur Fils to earn his place in the semifinals. Despite falling short of the final, Vacherot leaves Tokyo having reached a new career high of world No. 14.

Eyes will now be on Vacherot as he returns to the Shanghai Masters as defending champion, following his historic 2025 title run. The main draw begins on 7 October, with Vacherot receiving a first-round bye. With a career-high ranking and an impressive Tokyo performance, the Monaco player will look to continue the momentum in a place that has brought special moments before.

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Photo credit: Rolex Shanghai Masters