Vacherot savoring start of ‘2nd career’

PARIS, France (AFP) — Shanghai champion Valentin Vacherot said he was ready to start a “second career” after receiving a wild card for the ATP Basel tournament and submitting a request to enter the main draw at the Paris Masters days after his surprise win in China.

“Thanks to a wild card, spectators will have the opportunity to see one of the biggest sensations of the season,” organizers of the Swiss indoor tournament scheduled for 20 to 26 October announced.

On Sunday, Vacherot beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech to win the Shanghai Masters, becoming at world number 204 the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP 1000 tournament.

Paris Masters director Cedric Pioline confirmed that the 26-year-old Monegasque, now ranked 40, had submitted an invitation request for the tournament in the French capital which starts on 27 October.

“It would be a dream for me. Less than two weeks ago, I didn’t think I’d be playing Paris-Bercy at all,” Vacherot said after a ceremony in his honor attended by Prince Albert at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

“I thought I’d be playing in Asian challengers like I’m used to, after Shanghai. But no, finding myself at this new La Défense venue would be crazy for me.”

Vacherot did not have a ranking that would allow him to directly enter the main draw in Basel, nor the ninth and final Masters 1000 of the season, when the list of participants was finalized.

“Two weeks ago, with all due respect, not many people knew him,” said Pioline, himself a former world No. 5.

“Now, I think he has a name that speaks, that’s in the news, he’s identifiable,” in addition to having made “a stratospheric leap” in the ATP rankings.

His victim in the Shanghai final, his French cousin Rinderknech, “will also need an invitation” to directly enter the main draw, Pioline pointed out.

In addition to the four wild cards for the main draw the French Tennis Federation also plans to award four invitations to the qualifiers on 25 and 26 October.