Mon Oct 27 13:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Rinderknech Reflects on “Historical” Family Final, Ready for Paris Masters
Paris, France – French tennis player Arthur Rinderknech has moved on from his emotional loss to cousin Valentin Vacherot in the Shanghai Masters final, calling the experience “outstanding” and “historical.” Vacherot, ranked 204th in the world at the time, completed a stunning run through qualifying to defeat Rinderknech in the final, securing his first ATP title and becoming the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters tournament.
Rinderknech, speaking at a pre-tournament press conference ahead of the Paris Masters, expressed pride in both his and his cousin’s achievements. “Experiencing that with a family member was incredible. I’m delighted for him,” he said. Despite the defeat, Rinderknech emphasized the importance of moving forward. “The ATP Tour continues every week, so we turned the page already. We could talk about this for our entire lives, of course, but a page has been turned.”
After the Shanghai Masters, Rinderknech took time off to rest and recover from the demanding Asian tour. “I spent some time at the sea, in the mountains, to take some time off, which is quite good, because the Asian tour wore me out,” he explained. “It was important for me to regroup and spend some quality time with my wife and the people in my family.”
Rinderknech has been preparing for the Paris Masters, even practicing with world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who he beat in a practice set. He praised the court conditions, noting that the slower speed compared to last year is “actually a good thing.”
Rinderknech will face a qualifier in his first match at the Paris Masters, with the potential to face his cousin, Valentin Vacherot, in the second round.
First Piper 