Valentin Vacherot’s first ATP singles title didn’t come at a small event. It came at a Masters 1000, and almost no one saw it coming. Ranked 204, he arrived at the 2025 Shanghai Masters as a qualifier. He beat Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals, then topped his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final, becoming the first Monegasque to win an ATP title and the lowest-ranked Masters champion ever. The road there was anything but quick. He played college tennis at Texas A&M before turning pro, won his first ATP Challenger title in 2022, and kept grinding on the ITF circuit and the ATP Challenger Tour until that week in Shanghai.Embed from Getty Images

Basel Makes It Two For Valentin Vacherot

A year later, Valentin Vacherot proved Shanghai was no fluke. Basel was a smaller stage, but it was no easier road. He survived three-set battles with Rafael Jódar and Holger Rune, then beat Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the semifinals. Rune and Fritz are both former top ten players. In the final, he dropped the opening set to eighth seed Jiri Lehecka, then won the next two, 6-3, 6-3. It was his second career title, so he is two finals and two trophies. He also joined Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only players to win titles in both Shanghai and Basel. Next up is a first-round meeting with Novak Djokovic in Paris. Will lightning strike twice? Drop your prediction in the comments and subscribe so you get my weekly posts. Djokovic has revenge on his mind!

Top Hundred ATP & WTA Ranking Changes

ATP & WTA Top Ten Ranking Changes

ATP: there were a few changes in the top ten this week. Congratulations to the new number one, Alexander Zverev. Welcome to the top ten for the first time, Rafael Jodar at #10. Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex de Minaur each climbed one spot up to #7, #8, and #9, respectively. The top four players currently are: [1] Alexander Zverev; [2] Jannik Sinner; [3] Carlos Alcaraz; and [4] Ben Shelton.

WTA: there were a few changes in the top ten. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula traded places to #4 and #5, respectively. Linda Noskova and Iga Swiatek also traded places to #8 and #9, respectively. The current top four players are: [1] Elena Rybakina; [2] Aryna Sabalenka; [3] Mirra Andreeva; and [4] Coco Gauff.

Other Top Hundred Ranking News

There are currently two American women in the top ten: Coco Gauff and [5] Jessica Pegula. There are also currently two American men in the top ten: Ben Shelton and [8] Frances Tiafoe. Felix Auger-Aliassime fell six places out of the top ten to #13. Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz are both knocking on the door to get back into the top ten.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Getty Images