“My clay game is back”: Valentin Vacherot sends message after Musetti victory

Thursday, 09 April 2026 at 05:00

Valentin Vacherot produced one of the standout results of the Monte-Carlo Masters so far, defeating Lorenzo Musetti to secure the second Top 5 win of his career. The Monegasque, playing on home soil, handled the occasion with composure, closing out a high-level match in front of a crowd that has followed his development from the beginning.

The setting added clear weight to the result. Monte-Carlo is not just another tournament for Vacherot, but the place where he built his game. “Nothing can beat that,” he said, reflecting on what it meant to win on the centre court he has trained on since childhood.

This win also marked a shift back to clay for a player who had recently built momentum on hard courts, notably during his run in Shanghai. Against Musetti, one of the most natural clay-court players on tour, Vacherot showed he could match that level on a slower surface.

Even so, his reaction remained grounded. Rather than focusing only on the result, Vacherot pointed to moments where his level dipped, particularly in the first set, offering a more measured view of the performance.

Home emotions and clay identity

Vacherot admitted the emotional side of the match was difficult to process immediately after the final point. Playing at home, in a night session, added a layer that few players experience regularly on tour.

“Yeah, the emotions went down a little bit. It’s a bit tough to talk for a second. If someone had told me that my first top five win of the season, second after Shanghai, would be here on the night session on the center court that I’ve been hitting on since I’m six years old… nothing can beat that.”

He also made it clear that the surface played into his strengths. While his recent results have come on hard courts, clay remains the foundation of his game. “Maybe people don’t know that I love clay. I grew up playing here for 18 years before going to college and learning how to play on hard. This is where I learned how to play tennis.”

Tiebreak key despite self-criticism

The match turned around a tight first-set tiebreak, played in a strong atmosphere. Despite winning it, Vacherot was critical of his own level in that moment, pointing out that Musetti had been dictating most of the rallies.

“Yeah, I mean this is what I play for. To be honest, I’m winning this tiebreak but I’m not happy about my tennis in that tiebreak. He was dictating the point. He made a couple of mistakes.”

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He also suggested the set could have been decided earlier, highlighting missed chances before the tiebreak. That assessment reflects a clear understanding of where the match was really decided.

“It was good tennis before. I was on his serve zone at 4-3, 5-4, 6-5. I had a couple of set points and let’s say I deserved more to win the set before the tiebreak and I didn’t deserve to win the tiebreak but I got it.”

After that, Vacherot raised his level in the second set, playing with more clarity and control to close out the match. The result underlines his ability to compete at a higher level, particularly on a surface where he feels most comfortable, even if the performance itself was not without flaws.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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