By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 12, 2026
Photo credit: Pete Staples/USTA
The sound of squealing sneakers signaled Tommy Paul’s deep desire—and spooked Valentin Vacherot into failed flirtation with the lines.
Fueled by a fast first step, Paul dethroned defending champion Vacherot 6-4, 6-2 in an efficient display of all-court control.
Snapping the champion’s eight-match Shanghai winning streak, Paul powered into the Shanghai fourth round for the third time in as many appearances. Newlywed Paul is the third American man to reach the Shanghai round of 16 three times after John Isner (5) and Sam Querrey (3).
The lanky Vacherot was bidding to become the first champion to reach the Shanghai round of 16 in his title defense since 2018 champion Novak Djokovic contested the 2019 quarterfinals.
A year ago, a 204th-ranked Vacherot stunned the tennis world with his Cinderella run to the Rolex Shanghai Masters championship in a stirring run that saw him play through qualifying and knock off Djokovic and his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in the final to become the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion.
Tonight, Vacherot struggled to finish points in the face of Paul’s comprehensive court coverage and shrewd all-court skills. Paul picked apart the Vacherot forehand hitting 12 forehand winners, compared to only three for the highest-ranked Monegasque in ATP history.
The 14th-ranked Vacherot falls to No. 32 in the ATP Live Rankings, while Paul rises to No. 15.
The 15th-seeded Paul will play Belgian Zizou Bergs for a quarterfinal spot.
Earlier, Bergs pounded an ace down the T, sealing a stunning 7-5, 7-6(4) upset of Carlos Alcaraz in style to burst into the Rolex Shanghai Masters round of 16 with his biggest win.
The 39th-ranked Bergs out-served Alcaraz becoming the lowest-ranked man to beat the third-ranked Spaniard since his compatriot, world No. 55 David Goffin, upset Alcaraz at the 2025 Miami Open.
Consistently beating Vacherot to the ball, Paul broke at 15 for a 4-3 lead. Serving for the set, Paul saved two break points before closing the longest game of the set for a one-set lead. Paul saved six of seven break points tonight and did not face a break point in the second set.
Scoring the early break, Paul sped to separation in the second set.
In a draining fourth game, Paul wisely extended points and targeted the champion’s forehand wing in extended exchanges. Paul drew a netted forehand for game point then pumped an ace down the T to back up the break for 3-1.
A lightning fast first step helped Paul run Vacherot out of extended rallies. The defending champion hit a deep forehand approach down the line and dabbed a backhand drop volley that may have worked against many opponents.
Not Paul.
Streaking forward, Paul caught up to the spinning yellow ball with time to choose his target before shoveling a low pass down the breaking again for 4-1.
Seeing his grip slip away, Vacherot belted a ball high in the sky in frustration.
On his second match point, Paul pumped an ace down the T wrapping a one hour, 24-minute triumph.
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