Overview
- Arthur Rinderknech reached his first Masters 1000 quarter-final by defeating No. 15 seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (5) after upsetting world No. 3 Alexander Zverev earlier in the week.
- Valentin Vacherot, ranked No. 204 and coming through qualifying after an injury-hit season, became the lowest‑ranked player to make the last eight in Shanghai with wins including over Tallon Griekspoor.
- Rinderknech marked his win by writing “I follow you, Val” on a courtside camera and said family WhatsApp groups were buzzing as the cousins advanced together.
- The pair are cousins through their mothers, both attended Texas A&M, and Vacherot is coached by his half-brother Benjamin Balleret, with Vacherot describing the run as deeply emotional.
- Vacherot is set to face Holger Rune in the quarter-finals, and the cousins could only meet each other in Shanghai if both advance to the final.