Valentin Vacherot reacts after winning first match in Paris and setting record, ‘the fairytale didn’t stay in Shanghai’
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Valentin Vacherot picked up his first win since Shanghai at the 2025 Paris Masters.
Making history in China, Vacherot won the Shanghai Masters while ranked 204th in the world.
He then returned to ATP Tour action in Basel, where he pushed Taylor Fritz close before losing in a deciding set.
Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
Heading over to Paris, Vacherot secured a convincing win in his opening match, dominating Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-3.
During his on-court interview, Vacherot delivered his immediate reaction to one of the biggest wins of his career.
Valentin Vacherot says he is ‘living a fairytale’ after latest ATP Tour win
The Monegasque star was delighted to have beaten top-20 star Lehecka in his Paris debut.
“I’m living a fairytale. The fairytale didn’t stay in Shanghai,” he said.
“That’s why I’m playing so well, I’m enjoying every second.
“A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have believed anyone telling me that I would be here playing this tournament with my own ranking, even though I got a wild card, but I would have gotten in with my own ranking.
“I’m just surfing on the confidence of the fairytale, I’m just living the dream, and that’s why I’m playing so well.”
Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images
Vacherot was then asked about his cousin Arthur Rinderknech, whom he will play in the second round, just weeks after their Shanghai final.
“First of all, I’m so proud of us,” he said.
“Of how he competed yesterday, it was such a tough match against Fabian [Marozsan], he probably didn’t play the way he wanted.
- Arthur Rinderknech defeated Fabian Marozsan, 7-6, 7-6
“He is 25 in the world right now. When he doesn’t play well, he beats 50 in the world. Me, maybe I’m surfing a bit more on my confidence, I’m playing really well, enjoying what’s happening, playing a really good match against Jiri [Lehecka], who is top 20.
“I’m just so excited for the crowd, for everyone, our family, we’re just going to enjoy this match so much once again.”
Vacherot will be confident of producing another impressive performance in round two, after setting a record in the first round.
Valentin Vacherot hands Jiri Lehecka the fastest defeat of his career
The 26-year-old eased past Lehecka in just 54 minutes on Tuesday, handing the Czech star the quickest defeat of his professional career.
RankMatchOpponentDuration12025 Paris Masters – R64Valentin Vacherot54 minutes22025 Rotterdam Open – R16Hubert Hurkacz55 minutes32024 Belgrade Open – SFDenis Shapovalov56 minutes42024 Dubai Tennis Championships – QFAlexander Bublik58 minutes52025 Stuttgart – QFBen Shelton1 hour62023 Vienna Open – R16Karen Khachanov1 hour, 5 minutes72024 Swiss Indoors – R32Pedro Martinez1 hour, 7 minutes82025 Dubai Tennis Championships – R32Ugo Humbert1 hour, 8 minutes92024 Paris Masters – R64Jack Draper1 hour, 8 minutes102023 Paris Masters – R64Roberto Bautista Agut1 hour, 11 minutesTop 10 fastest ATP main draw defeats of Jiri Lehecka’s career
Lehecka has struggled for form since reaching the final of the European Open earlier this month.
Losing to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 6-2, in his Basel opener, and to Vacherot 6-1, 6-3 in Paris, Lehecka has only won eight games across his last two matches.
That’s bad news for Lehecka and Czechia’s Davis Cup captain Tomas Berdych, who will be concerned to see his star man’s form dip with a trip to Bologna right around the corner.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images for ITF
Beating the USA in their playoff match, Czechia advanced to the final eight, where they will search for their first title since 2013.
Seeded fourth in Bologna, Czechia may have hoped for a better draw, but instead will play Carlos Alcaraz’s Spain in the quarterfinals.
2025 Davis Cup quarterfinals
- [1] Italy vs Austria
- [3] France vs Belgium
- [4] Czechia vs Spain
- [2] Germany vs Argentina
Only time will tell if Lehecka and his team can pull off the upset against Spain, but you certainly won’t want to miss it.
The 2025 Davis Cup Finals are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, November 18.
