“Respect is earned; not given”, as the saying goes, and on Saturday, world No 23 Valentin Vacherot experienced both on one of tennis’s most prestigious stages.
His impressive Rolex Monte‑Carlo Masters run came to an end in the semi-finals, where the 27‑year‑old Monegasque suffered a straight‑sets defeat to world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 6‑4, 6‑4.
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Ended fairytale run
While the result ended Vacherot’s fairytale run, the respect he earned – from royalty, fans, the principality of Monaco, and ultimately his opponent, ensured it was an occasion to remember.
Three words from Carlos Alcaraz will no doubt be etched in the Monegasque’s memory for many years to come.
The match marked the first meeting between the two players and pitted the reigning champion against a local favourite who has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the rankings.
This time last year, Vacherot was ranked 256th in the world.
Set on Court Rainier III, the semi-final unfolded in a fittingly regal atmosphere.
Prince Albert II of Monaco, son of the late Prince Rainier III after whom the court is named, watched on alongside his cousin Mélanie‑Antoinette Costello de Massy.
Tennis legends Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg, both title-holders at Monte‑Carlo Country Club, were also present, adding further prestige to an already electric scene.
High-quality tennis
Despite the straight‑sets scoreline, the contest featured high-quality tennis from both players.
Vacherot played with confidence and aggression, serving deep and powerful to push Carlos Alcaraz back behind the baseline.
The Monegasque managed at times to hold his own against the world’s top-ranked player.
Alcaraz ultimately shifted the momentum by deploying his trademark drop shot, drawing Vacherot forward and breaking the rhythm.
The Spaniard’s tactical adjustment proved decisive as he edged key moments in both sets.
The atmosphere peaked late in the second set at 4‑4 when Alcaraz requested a video review for a Vacherot low return shot near the net that he believed had bounced once before going over the net.
The request was met with audible boos as fans rallied behind their home player.
The replay confirmed the shot was legal, awarding the point to Vacherot and prompting loud cheers from the stands.
Regained focus
Carlos Alcaraz, however, regained focus immediately, broke serve in the same game and went on to close out the match.
As Vacherot left the court, he received a warm ovation from the crowd, and from Alcaraz himself, with Prince Albert II rising to applaud the Monegasque’s achievement.
Although his run ended one step short of the final, the 2026 Monte‑Carlo Masters represents a breakout moment for Vacherot, with many positive takeaways.
En route to the semi‑finals, he defeated world No 5 Lorenzo Musetti and world No 6 Alex de Minaur, becoming the first Monegasque in the Open Era to reach both the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the tournament, and doing so at the local club where he grew up playing tennis.
Vacherot’s performance is expected to lift him to a career-high ranking of world No 14 when the rankings update on Monday, underlining his growing status on the ATP Tour as the clay‑court season gathers momentum.
‘Beautiful tournaments’
At his post-match press conference, Vacherot told reporters: “I’m going to stay as I am, do the same things, but I’m happy that the clay court season is only starting, because I have to play those beautiful tournaments to come up to the way to the French Open in one month and a half”.
Speaking further of his experience: “It was a great tournament. I will have those memories for the rest of my life. Although I had Alcaraz on the other side of the net, I’m happy that I came out of the match with some frustration, because it shows that I want to do even better. I want to bother him even more. But for a first time, I believe it was a good battle already”.
That sentiment was echoed by Alcaraz in a final gesture of sportsmanship. After the match, the world No 1 signed the camera lens with three words that captured the moment simply and memorably:
“Respect to Valentin.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s final opponent is world No 2 Jannik Sinner on Sunday. Their head-to-head favours Alcaraz at 10-6.
Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively for The South African from the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.