ATP Tour

Vacherot makes history in Monte-Carlo, digs deep for QF spot

Valentin Vacherot made more ATP Masters 1000 history on Thursday, but this time it came on much more familiar ground at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

The 27-year-old drew on a vibrant home crowd to rally past former World No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals at the clay-court event. With his two-hour, 53-minute victory, Vacherot became the first Monegasque player in the Open Era to reach the last eight in Monte-Carlo.

Vacherot’s breakthrough on home soil comes just eight months after he triumphed in Shanghai as the World No. 204 to become the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion since the series began in 1990.

Another one for the books 🔥@val_vacherot keeps making history in Monte-Carlo! @ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/9YfXaaWljd

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 9, 2026

In a dramatic end to his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Hurkacz, Vacherot saved three break points, including two straight from 15/40. Once he had converted his first match point, the 6'4" powerhouse fell to his knees and soaked in the applause from the packed Court Rainier III crowd.

By upsetting last year’s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets to reach the third round in Monaco for the first time, Vacherot joined his half-brother and coach Benjamin Balleret as the only Monegasque men to reach that stage. But with his gutsy win over Hurkacz, Vacherot has etched history of his own on home soil.

Vacherot is up four spots to No. 19 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, guaranteeing himself a new career high on Monday. In the Monte-Carlo quarter-finals, he will meet fifth seed Alex de Minaur.