More than the Score23 Dec 2025

More than 2025: Valentin Vacherot's shock tennis triumph

Before the Shanghai Masters tournament in October, Valentin Vacherot was the 204th ranked men's tennis player in the world. He'd never won a title on the main ATP tour, and had only played one Grand Slam match in his career.

Then, over the course of a week, his entire career changed. He recorded victories over some of the world's top players - including Novak Djokovic - before reaching the final, where he faced a man he knows better than anyone else on tour: his own cousin, Arthur Rinderknech.

As we continue our look back at 2025, Ade Adedoyin revisits his interview with Valentin after his biggest victory, and BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller shares his thoughts on what Vacherot's future might hold.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

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