Arthur Rinderknech has reflected on his unusual run to the Shanghai Masters final during an appearance on Andy Roddick’s podcast, "Served with Roddick", where he ultimately faced his cousin Valentin Vacherot in one of the most rare matchups in ATP history.

The Frenchman described the experience as something that escalated unexpectedly throughout the week. During a week full of surprises round by round, the world No. 54 at the time defeated five seeded players along the way, including Alexander Zverev (3rd), Felix Auger-Aliassime (12th), and Daniil Medvedev (18th).

If Rinderknech’s run was already remarkable, the fact that another unlikely player reached the final from the opposite side of the draw made the storyline even more extraordinary, as his opponent in the final was the world No. 204 at the time, Valentin Vacherot.

The fact that both unexpected finalists were cousins — at least from the perspective of both players — made it something absolutely unprecedented.

Rinderknech described how the possibility of a family final was initially dismissed within the tournament environment, even as both players advanced through early rounds. The idea only began to emerge as both reached the second week of the event.

“We were in round of 16, quarterfinal, and we were like, okay, there is zero chance that we will see each other in the final. Zero chance,” he said. “We knew we were both going to lose at some point, but it was fun that people even thought about it.”

As results accumulated, the scenario shifted. Rinderknech said the situation became increasingly real during his semifinal against Medvedev, particularly after key moments in the final stages of the match. The emotional weight of the situation became clear once both finalists emerged from opposite sides of the draw. “And then everything is going well for him and he wins this match point and I’m like, okay, now I’m winning my match and we are in the final. And it’s going to happen. The thing that will never happen again, ever in tennis history.”

Rinderknech said the final itself was affected by physical and mental fatigue accumulated throughout the week, with multiple long matches in hot and humid conditions contributing to a difficult start. “I started not too great. I’m feeling the nerves a little bit,” he said.

The aftermath of the final added another layer of difficulty. Rinderknech described immediate physical breakdown during the trophy ceremony and a rapid transition to travel logistics shortly after the match ended. “The trophy ceremony was quite difficult with everything that happened during the two weeks. Of course we started crying. I cramped on the stand. My quad started failing.”

He also highlighted the tight scheduling between the final and his departure from Shanghai, noting that travel arrangements were executed almost immediately after the ceremony concluded. “I booked my flight five minutes after the trophy ceremony. I was in the tournament transport to go to the Shanghai airport.”

Despite the defeat, Rinderknech said the week confirmed his ability to compete at Masters 1000 level, highlighting wins over top opposition and the experience of reaching a final in one of the most unusual circumstances in recent ATP history.

Arthur Rinderknech arrives at Roland Garros after a clay season marked less by sustained runs than by isolated peaks, with Geneva serving as his clearest competitive reference point before the final stretch toward Paris. H

The Frenchman’s perspective this season is shaped heavily by the structural change in how opponents now approach him, following his rise in ranking and deeper runs at tour level. He described a shift in match dynamics that alters baseline expectations and pressure distribution, noting that “the higher you are, the more expectations you get,” with opponents entering matches freer because they have “nothing to lose against you.”

Geneva stands as his most complete week on clay, where he reached the quarterfinals after wins over Thiago Tirante and Laslo Djere before a three-set defeat to Alexander Bublik after holding a set advantage.

He enters Roland Garros as the 22nd seed against a qualifier, with his focus remaining firmly on process and day-to-day improvement. “I’m focusing on myself, my game, my fitness, and improving every day.”