Sports · Tennis · 21 hrs ago
Vacherot opens Shanghai Masters title defence with win over Baez
Valentin Vacherot began his Shanghai Masters title defence by beating Sebastian Baez 6-4, 7-6(5).
The tournament is being played in Shanghai, and Vacherot won it last year after a breakthrough run as a qualifier.
He said the centre court and surface are new this year and play faster than they did in 2025.
Vacherot also said he was happy to return and did not want to think of the event simply as a title defence.
Only Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have previously defended the Shanghai title.
Vacherot is now ranked 14th in the world, a career high.
His next match is against 15th seed Tommy Paul, whom he has never played.
Valentin Vacherot began his Shanghai Masters title defence with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Sebastian Baez.
The Monegasque said the centre court and surface are faster this year than in 2025.
Vacherot said he was happy to return to the tournament and tried not to think of the event as a title defence.
He won the 2025 title as the world number 204 and has since reached a career-high ranking of world number 14.
His next opponent is 15th seed Tommy Paul, whom he has never played before.
- Who
- Valentin Vacherot and Sebastian Baez.
- What
- Vacherot beat Baez 6-4, 7-6(5) to start his Shanghai Masters title defence.
- When
- 2026. The exact match date is not stated.
- Where
- The Shanghai Masters in Shanghai.
- Why
- Vacherot was playing his opening match as he seeks to defend the title he won in 2025.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I tried to not take it as a title defence. It will be too arrogant to say I’m coming here to just defend my title.
The centre court is new, the surface is new, it’s faster than last year.
Vacherot won the Shanghai Masters as the world number 204.
Vacherot reached the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters and Japan Open.
Vacherot began his title defence by beating Sebastian Baez.
Vacherot was due to face 15th seed Tommy Paul next.
- Opening match score
- Vacherot beat Baez 6-4, 7-6(5)
- 2025 title
- Vacherot won the Shanghai Masters
- Career-high ranking
- World number 14
- Next opponent
- Tommy Paul, the 15th seed
- Tournament surface
- Vacherot said it was faster than in 2025
Sources
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