'I Kept Watching Federer': Vacherot’s Reaction To Seeing His Idol Amid Historic Masters Win

Last Updated:October 14, 2025, 16:56 IST

The lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion in history lived his dream — with Roger Federer watching from the stands.

Vacherot was admittedly a bit startstuck with Federer watching him from the stands in Shanghai (X)

No one — not fans, not pundits, not even the most optimistic Monaco supporter — had Valentin Vacherot on their radar when the 2025 Shanghai Masters began.

In a story that will be told for years, the 26-year-old went from virtual obscurity to Masters 1000 champion, capping his dream run with a 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 victory over his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in an emotional all-French final.

The win made him the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 title — a feat so staggering that it even overshadowed his semifinal victory over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Federer in the stands — and in his head

But one of the biggest surprises of Vacherot’s life came before the final even started. Sitting just a few metres away, watching intently from the front row, was his childhood idol — Roger Federer.

For Vacherot, that alone was enough to make the day unforgettable.

“I met Roger Federer this morning, which honestly felt a little bigger than my final to start the day," Vacherot said with a grin after the match. “It was really nice of him, of course. Seeing him watch the whole match was very special."

He later admitted that having his hero courtside was as distracting as it was inspiring.

“I’m not going to lie," he said, laughing. “After winning or losing a few points, I was kind of watching him out of the corner of my eye to see how he reacted to certain shots. No, it was incredible to have him there. Every time they showed him on the screen, I think the crowd made more noise than after some of the big points we played."

Federer, who retired in 2022, is still revered in the tennis world — and for Vacherot, his presence symbolized a full-circle moment.

“That’s how incredible and great he is for this sport," Vacherot added. “Even though he’s been out of tennis for four or five years, I think. Just having him there — that’s something I’ll never forget."

The Cinderella run that stunned tennis

Vacherot’s title in Shanghai propelled him 164 spots up the rankings, from No. 204 to No. 40, marking one of the biggest single-tournament jumps in ATP history. He also took home $1,124,380 in prize money — nearly double his career earnings before Shanghai.

“It’s just crazy," Vacherot said. “Two weeks ago, I was packing to go back to play Challengers. Now I’m here, holding a Masters trophy, with Federer watching me. That’s insane."

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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