Just over two weeks after their final clash at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot meet again at the Rolex Paris Masters.
Both now ranked inside the Top 40, the cousins set up another showdown in the second round after delivering strong performances in their opening matches, with a sold-out Parisian crowd expected to pack the stands for their rematch.
The Shanghai Story
Vacherot, who entered the Rolex Shanghai Masters ranked World No. 204, had the fortnight of his life as he defeated a series of Top 20 players, most notably Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic. In the final, he found his cousin Arthur Rinderknech on the other side of the net in what became one of the most emotional and unexpected storylines of the tennis season.
The final itself was an epic. The older cousin, Rinderknech, got off to an early lead before Vacherot fought back to win the second set and send the title match into a deciding set. In that final set, it was the Monegasque who raised his level to complete a remarkable run, becoming the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion in ATP history. Their embrace at the end became one of the most memorable pictures of the 2025 tennis season.
Reunion in Paris
Their heroics in Shanghai and shared storyline captured the tennis world’s attention, earning both players wild cards to compete at the Rolex Paris Masters. The draw once again placed them on a collision course for a second-round reunion.
Rinderknech did his part on Monday, battling past Fabian Marozsan in straight tiebreak sets, while all eyes turned to Vacherot to see if he could follow through. Up against another Top 20 opponent in Jiri Lehecka, Vacherot produced a dominant performance, dismantling the 14th seed 6-1 6-3. With that result, the dream match was officially set, as the cousins will once again face each other in what promises to be another emotional rollercoaster.
The winner will not only reach the third round but will likely face World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a match that we can expect a passionate La Défense Arena showing out for.
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
