Vacherot Keeps the Dream Alive, Joins Star-Studded Quartet in Monte-Carlo Semis

After Valentin Vacherot’s latest eye-opening victory—“latest” because there has been a steady stream of them since he stormed to the Shanghai Masters title as World No. 204 last year—the Monégasque was asked about his arrival in the semifinals at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

“Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverev, Vacherot—our four semifinalists. How does that sound?” said Lee Goodall, conducting the on-court interview for ATP Media.

“That sounds amazing,” Vacherot said. “It’s such an honor for me to be part of these semifinals alongside three of the best players of the last few years. I just can’t wait for tomorrow—having the chance to play Carlos in my hometown is incredible.”

The 28-year-old’s improbable rise from career journeyman to legitimate Top 20 talent continued on Sunday, as Vacherot defeated No. 6 seed Alex de Minaur, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to join a star-studded semifinal quartet in the Principality.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev may command more global recognition, but none will receive the kind of support Vacherot enjoys this week. Born nearby and raised on the courts of the venerable club, he has the full weight of the local crowd behind him.

He is surrounded by friends, family and locals who can hardly believe that a Monégasque has reached the semifinals of one of the sport’s most prestigious clay-court events. Prior to this week, only his half-brother, Benjamin Balleret, had reached the round of 16.

“All the guys up there, chanting—those are my best friends since I was 9, 10, 11, 12 years old,” Vacherot said. “High school, middle school with them… it’s rare. For a player to have this many people around, all the members of the club sitting here in the boxes… I could probably name a thousand faces in the crowd. I’m just so lucky.”

Vacherot will face defending champion Alcaraz for the first time on Saturday, with a place in the final at stake.

Zooming out over the past year, Vacherot’s rise becomes even more remarkable. He had never defeated a Top 20 opponent prior to his breakthrough run in Shanghai last October, entering the tournament with an 0-2 record against the elite and a 1-3 mark at Masters 1000 level. Since then, he has gone 6-2 against the Top 20 and 17-3 at Masters events.

Alcaraz may ultimately prove a step too far—but until he does, the dream lives on for Valentin Vacherot, the hometown hero adding a touch of fairy tale to the Monte-Carlo semifinals.