Valentin Vacherot kept his fairytale run alive on Friday in Monte Carlo, winning another three-set battle to set up a semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. The World No. 23 beat World No. 6 Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in heavy conditions, with vacherot now carrying home support into one of the biggest matches of his career. The result sends Vacherot into a home-court meeting with the World No. 1 on Saturday.
Vacherot Stands One Match From The Final
Vacherot’s latest win came just one night after a near-three-hour victory over Hubert Hurkacz, giving him back-to-back physical tests on successive evenings. He held firm in the key moments against De Minaur, closing the first set with a long 23-shot rally and later saving four break points in a pivotal game while serving at 4-3 in the third set.
That resilience has defined the week. Vacherot also upset World No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti in the third round, and his run has lifted him to a 4-4 record against Top 10 players. This time last year, he entered the tournament as a wild card ranked No. 256. He is now No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and would rise as high as No. 12 if he wins the title.
Home Crowd Energy Fuels Vacherot
Vacherot said the moment has been especially meaningful because of where he is playing and who is watching. “It’s such an honour to be part of the semi-finals with three of the best players of the last few years, ” Vacherot said. “I can’t wait for tomorrow to have the opportunity to play Carlos in my home town. ”
He added that many people in the stands have been part of his life for years, describing the crowd as a mix of close friends, schoolmates, and club members. That backdrop makes vacherot a rare home-story at this stage of the event, and he becomes the first Monegasque player to go this far at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
Alcaraz Matchup Brings The Biggest Test Yet
The semifinal line-up also includes Jannik Sinner against Alexander Zverev, giving the tournament the world’s Top 3 players alongside Vacherot. The matchup with Alcaraz is the one carrying the sharpest local edge, but the gap in ranking and title experience means Vacherot will need another high-level physical performance to stay with the pace of the match.
Alcaraz reached the last four after wins over Sebastian Baez, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Alexander Bublik. Vacherot’s path has been tougher on the scoreboard and on the body, and his last two victories have both gone the distance.
What Comes Next In Monte Carlo
Saturday’s semifinal schedule now centers on whether Vacherot can extend vacherot beyond the point where the crowd alone can carry him. He has already delivered the biggest run of his tournament life, and the next step comes against the World No. 1 in a match that will test his legs, timing, and nerve again. If he can repeat the composure he showed against De Minaur, vacherot could remain the central story in Monte Carlo for one more round.
