Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot extended a family storyline in Paris on Wednesday, overcoming his French cousin Arthur Rinderknech 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Paris Masters round of 16. Their encounter at Paris La Défense Arena — the second high-profile meeting between them in under a month — lasted nearly three hours and mixed fierce competition with the added weight of kinship.

Vacherot arrived in Paris buoyed by a breakthrough triumph in Shanghai earlier this month. That unexpected win made him the lowest-ranked player ever to capture an ATP Masters 1000 crown (ranked No. 204 at the time) and pushed him to No. 40 in the rankings. The 25-year-old has carried that momentum into the French capital, playing with renewed belief against top opponents.

The opening set was tight and nervy for both men. Vacherot said the family element intensified his feelings on court. “I felt more nervous than in my previous match,” he reflected, adding that facing Arthur likely added an emotional edge. Their knowledge of one another’s games appeared to raise the stakes and complicate the early rhythm.

That first set reached a tense tiebreak, where Vacherot spurned two set points before Rinderknech closed it out 11-9. Both players leaned on big serves and forceful baseline exchanges, and the crowd fed off the match’s charged moments as rallies and reactions unfolded.

Vacherot regrouped in the second set, serving with greater assurance and finding cleaner striking from the backcourt. He secured an early break and kept the initiative, taking the set 6-3 as his confidence visibly increased. “As the match went on I felt calmer and more in control,” he said after the win.

The decider produced its share of drama. At 3-3, Vacherot faced three break points at 0-40 but held firm, saving them with composed serving and decisive shot-making. That escape shifted momentum; he then broke Rinderknech and closed out the match 6-4, finishing with 32 winners overall.

Rinderknech praised his cousin after the contest, acknowledging the difference in outcome compared with Shanghai. “It was a different match,” he said. “There wasn’t much between us in terms of attack and winners. He earned this one.” His remarks mixed disappointment with respect, a common response when family meets on a big stage.

Their Shanghai meeting carried a different tone, coming as Vacherot’s rise surprised many. In Paris, there was more to play for — ranking points, national pride and family reputation — and the home crowd strongly backed Rinderknech. Still, Vacherot’s resilience in longer rallies suited the slower conditions in Paris and helped him prevail at key moments.

Vacherot’s season has been a rapid ascent: from a low ranking to a Masters title and now a deep run in Paris. His achievements have drawn attention to tennis in Monaco, a small nation better known for hosting high-level events than producing breakthrough players. His progress has become an inspiring narrative of persistence and steady improvement.

With this victory Vacherot moves into the last 16, where stiffer challenges await. Whether he continues this remarkable surge or not, his wins this season — and the family storyline with Rinderknech — have added a memorable human element to his breakout year.