Valentin Vacherot shows true colours as world No.204 stuns Novak Djokovic in Shanghai | Tennis | Sport
The Monegasque qualifier kept his celebrations low-key as soon as he sealed victory, aware that Djokovic had been struggling. After booking his spot in the final, Vacherot made sure to thank everyone who had an impact on his career and shared his wish to stay down to Earth.
“I don’t know how long it went, it was one hour, 40 [minutes] of pure joy even though not many people wanted me to keep going,” Vacherot said after getting the opportunity to face Djokovic for the first time in his career.
“He’s really, really, really appreciated here, he’s won four times, I think, if I heard. I got a bit lost in all of his titles when they were announcing him! But unreal experience, and now I’m probably just going to enjoy the win tonight and think about the final tomorrow.”
Vacherot still has one more match to think about – the final. It’s already been a life-changing run for the 26-year-old, who is set to bank at least £448k for reaching the championship match, and will now skyrocket into the world’s top 60, having never cracked the top 100 before.
But the Monaco native is staying humble and remembering everything that his family and past coaches taught him.
Asked how he was staying humble, the world No. 204 said: “First of all, how I got taught to live life, how I grew up, always stay your feet on Earth, thanks to my parents, thanks to my family.
“Already, when I was growing up, my brother, Benjamin [Balleret], that’s over there, was playing on the tour and he was ranked most of his career around 200 in the world, and for me, that was unreal to be around 200 in the world.
“Thank you to Steve Denton, Kevin O’Shea, and all the coaches in Texas A&M [universory] because they taught me the same thing, just to work hard. This is probably where I learned to be a professional tennis player and stop just playing for fun, to really work as a professional and to be as high in the ranking.
“And [I want to] say thank you to the Monaco federation, we’re such a small family and we’re pushing each other. Yes, I might be the first one in singles, but Hugo [Nys] has made a final of Grand Slam in Australian Open in doubles.
“Romain [Arneodo] won Monte Carlo, Hugo has won Rome Masters 1000. I’m just happy. Just watching them gave me a little bit of ideas, even though it’s singles, I know, it’s different.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who put a little brick in my career because they taught me how to be down on Earth and to fight, and this is probably why I’m here today.”
Vacherot had some extra support in his box on Saturday, as his fitness trainer and Melanie-Antoinette de Massy, president of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, were among those who jetted in for the semi-final. And the world No. 204 will no doubt hope to make them proud again in Sunday’s final.
