World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot shared his overwhelming emotions after his stunning victory over Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters semifinal, winning with a score of 6/3, 6/4.
A “Crazy” and Unforgettable Victory
I don`t know how to explain this victory; I can`t put it into words. Yes, `crazy` is definitely the fitting term. Just being on the same court as him is an incredible experience in itself. I believe I learned a great deal from Novak in that match, and even from within myself.
He described the match as “about an hour and forty minutes of pure joy,” acknowledging that few expected him to advance. Vacherot noted, “Novak is highly revered here. I think he`s won here four times – I got a bit muddled with his titles when they were announced. This whole experience… now, I`ll likely just savor the victory and then turn my thoughts to tomorrow`s final.”
Maintaining Focus and Hunger
When asked how he manages to avoid emotional burnout while maintaining his focus and hunger for victories, especially with another match still ahead, Vacherot offered insights into his upbringing and influences.
Since childhood, I`ve been taught to stay firmly grounded. I owe thanks to my parents, my family, and my brother Benjamin [Balleret, my coach] – he also competed on the tour, reaching around 200th in the world (ranking 204th himself). For me, even that achievement seemed unreal at the time. And now, here I am.
Vacherot extended his gratitude, saying, “Thanks to all the coaches from Texas A&M – they truly taught me how to work, how to be a professional, rather than just playing for pleasure. Thanks to the Monaco federation – we are a small family, but we always support each other. I simply want to thank everyone who has had even a slight impact on my career, because these are the people who instilled in me the values of humility and resilience. That`s probably why I find myself here today,” Vacherot concluded during his on-court interview.
Marcus Prine