Battle of the cousins takes center stage in China.
Two cousins will lock horns in a family affair at the 2025 Shanghai Masters final, as Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot battle it out for ultimate supremacy. The two unexpected finalists defeated Grand Slam champions in Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic to reach Sunday’s summit clash. There is no doubt that it will be one of the most entertaining match-ups in recent Masters-1000 history, regardless of the result. Let’s break down this clash with the help of BetMGM.
After booking their spot in the grand final, Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot shared a warm embrace in front of the partisan Shanghai crowd. It was a statement that irrespective of the winner on Sunday, it was a success for both players. Rinderknech is currently ranked No. 54 in the world – he will capture his first career title with a win in the Shanghai final. On the other hand, 26-year-old Vacherot is bidding to become the first Monegasque Masters-1000 champion in the history of the sport.
By reaching the final, Valentin Vacherot has confirmed his entry into the ATP Top-60. Having entered the qualifying draw as an alternate, the World No. 204 went on an all-time legendary run to the final. Some of his victories against the likes of Alexander Bublik, Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic were on par with some of the best players in the world. Meanwhile, Arthur Rinderknech’s best wins this week were against Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev.
The head-to-head record between Rinderknech and Vacherot is currently 0-0. They will face each other for the first time in the Shanghai Masters final.
| Arthur Rinderknech | Category | Valentin Vacherot |
| 54 | Current Ranking | 204 |
| 100-106 | Career W-L Record | 18-9 |
| 26-25 | YTD W-L Record | 12-2 |
| 0 | Career Titles | 0 |
| 0 | YTD Titles | 0 |
| 0 | Grand Slams | 0 |
Considering the kind of form he is in, it would be hard to bet against Valentin Vacherot. The combination of serving prowess, groundstroke depth and mental intensity from the 26-year-old is admirable. With Rinderknech, it is hard to dictate play due to the Frenchman’s ability to take time away from his opposition. He has a phenomenal serve and backs it up with fierce net play. This encounter is likely to be won by whoever manages to stay on the front foot more often than not.
Prediction: Arthur Rinderknech in three sets.
Rinderknech is a slight favorite (4/7) over the underdog Vacherot (7/5) in the ATP Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025 final. According to the implied probability on the money line, the Frenchman has a 64% chance of lifting the trophy over his shoulders. Have a look at the complete list of favorable betting odds (as per BetMGM):
(According to BetMGM: BetMGM offers exclusive promo codes, bonus deals and accurate odds for users upon signing up. Use BetMGM to ace your betting game in all sports!)
(Image Credits: John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images)
