The Monte Carlo Masters has never had a homegrown singles champion, but Valentin Vacherot would love to change that.
On this week’s episode of The Sit-Down podcast, the world No.23 – sitting at his career-best ranking, achieved last week, – shared why his childhood memories at the tournament have inspired his dream to lift the trophy.
“It was my favourite week of the year. All I was waiting for was the tournament,” he revealed.
"My coach, who is my brother, was playing back in the day. He was mostly ranked around No.200 all his career but since he's from Monaco as well, he was getting a wildcard every year, so he was allowing me to watch him play there.
“I was praying that it was going to be during vacation, so I didn't have any problem to go from 9am to 7pm on site and watch every singles match possible, catch every autograph possible, and that's why it's weird, but I’d rather win Monte-Carlo than a Grand Slam to be honest.
“Of course, I wouldn't mind winning a Grand Slam. It’s just really special. It’s the club that I've always been playing tennis in.”
It was only October last year when the Monegasque player solidified his place on the ATP Tour, prevailing at the Shanghai Masters in what was a fairytale run.
Entering as a qualifier, the then-world No.204 advanced to the final by defeating players such as Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune before becoming the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion in tour history, and the first player from Monaco to win a singles title on the pro circuit.
“Sometimes I still pinch myself to see if it was real. I try to not forget the images that are in my head that happened over there. It was a little bit, let's say, like a little parenthesis in my life,” the 27-year-old explained.
PODCAST: Listen to Valentin Vacherot on The Sit-Down
“It's hard to even believe sometimes that it was real, but I try to not think about it all the time... it was an amazing example for how I played, how I battled and everything, but also [it was about] just getting back to Earth and just knowing now this is my place, this is where I belong. And try to gradually keep climbing and see where I can end up by the end.
"Hopefully, those two weeks are the base of a second huge part of my career.”
What made the Shanghai final even more special was Vacherot's opponent across the net – his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech.
“When I was ranked No.200, my only goal was to just try catch up to Arthur to be with him more and to be just where he was because he's been in the top hundred for so long. Now I finally did it and we're together, so it's really cool," Vacherot said.
"All of our family can come and watch us play at the same place, so it’s easy.”
With his home tournament kicking off, Vacherot is ready to represent his nation with pride.
“I mean people probably see Monaco as just this little area where there's money and everything, and it's just about going there to go to the beach and play casino,” he smiled, "but it’s such a small country and what we do for sport is amazing."
Listen to the full episode of The Sit-Down, a weekly podcast released each Monday featuring an in-depth interview with a notable tennis identity. Subscribe in your favourite podcast player so you never miss an episode.