A tense return for Monaco’s home favourite
Back on the Rock for the first time, Valentin Vacherot didn’t get an easy ride. Up against clay-court specialist Juan Manuel Cerundolo, the Monégasque had to dig deep for more than two hours to book his place in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
In a rattling atmosphere on Court Rainier III, with the crowd firmly behind him, Vacherot looked tight early on, probably weighed down by the occasion and the noise around him. Even with chances going begging, he couldn’t convert in the first set, particularly at 4-4 when he wasted four precious break points.
That waste came back to bite him. A few games later, Cerundolo took full advantage, nicking the set 7-5 and leaving the home man in real trouble.
A burst of pride at the key moment
Shaken and staring down the barrel in the second set, Valentin Vacherot somehow found the mental strength to turn it around. Under pressure in the opening games, he had to save a double break point that could have almost ended the match there and then.
Hear them roar 🗣️@val_vacherot getting the crowd going on Court Rainier III with 3 points in a row to hold!#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/gS0zsL084X
— Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 6, 2026
That was the turning point.
After three eye-catching points in a row, Vacherot had the crowd up and roaring, waving his arms and dragging energy out of the stands. From there, he looked a different player entirely.
Sharper, braver and, crucially, far looser, he rattled off six straight games to take the second set 6-2 and drag himself right back into the match.
Total control in the decider
Once he’d found his groove, Valentin Vacherot never looked back. With Juan Manuel Cerundolo losing his bearings, the Monégasque quickly seized control of the third set.
Stronger in the rallies and far more ruthless when it mattered, he set the pace and broke his opponent’s spirit. The final scoreline, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, told the story of a match completely flipped on its head after a messy start.
Hometown hero 🏡 @val_vacherot completes the comeback by winning the 12 of the final 13 games vs Cerundolo to win 5-7 6-2 6-1!#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/HYDALbdTPz
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 6, 2026
After 2h23 of battle, Vacherot could finally enjoy it, confirming his surge on the tour and the new standing that comes with it.
A new status to live up to
This win matters. A lot. Valentin Vacherot is now inside the world top 30, and he’s no longer the underdog — he’s the man everyone’s taking seriously.
His shock Shanghai title changed the way people look at him, and this Monte-Carlo win shows he can handle the heat, even under pressure, even with the whole place watching.
His ability to haul himself back from a bad position is a loud warning to the rest of the tour.
A tasty clash with Musetti next
In the next round, Valentin Vacherot faces a big ask against Lorenzo Musetti, last year’s finalist and a dangerous player on clay.
The Italian, all touch and invention on this surface, is a completely different problem. But after the way Vacherot turned this one around, he’s got every reason to believe.
It already feels like a proper spectacle in the making, with two players who can light the place up when they’re on it.
Monte-Carlo ready to erupt
With this win, Valentin Vacherot has picked up far more than a place in the next round. He’s earned himself a centre-stage night in a tournament that means everything to him.
The Monaco crowd, already going wild in this opening-round battle, should be out in force again for his duel with Lorenzo Musetti.
One thing’s certain: after a comeback like that, Vacherot has kicked his tournament into gear — and now he can dare to think bigger.
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