The Shanghai champion runs out of inspiration: "It has been my worst match of the year"

Valentin Vacherot ended his participation in the Shanghai Masters 1000 with a resounding defeat against Tommy Paul (6-4 and 6-2). The Monegasque, who arrived at the tournament with great memories and the hope of prolonging his adventure, found no answers against a rival who exploited his difficulties. Rather than hiding behind the merits of the American, the tennis player was honest in analyzing a performance that left him particularly dissatisfied.

“First of all, I played really poorly, but Tommy also made me play poorly,” Vacherot acknowledged, highlighting his opponent's ability to move him around the court. The Monegasque admitted that he was not feeling well physically and that this sensation affected his performance. Despite everything, he tried to stay in the match during the first set, relying particularly on his return. However, he missed a break opportunity that would have allowed him to tie at five games, and from there, Paul gained confidence to close the match with authority.

Vacherot: “It was one of my worst matches of the season”

Vacherot did not want to attribute his defeat solely to accumulated fatigue, although he acknowledged that the travel and demanding schedule could have influenced it. “Physically and mentally, it was a bit of everything. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been traveling for a long time, but tonight was probably one of my worst matches of the season,” he confessed with resignation. The disappointment was understandable.

After all he experienced in Shanghai, the Monegasque wanted to say goodbye with a memorable battle, not with such a clear defeat. “I would have preferred to leave this tournament with a great match, a good fight, maybe three sets, and not losing 6-4 and 6-2,” he explained. Nonetheless, Vacherot wanted to keep perspective on what happened and recalled that there are factors beyond any tennis player's control, especially when the opponent plays at such a high level. His conclusion was as simple as it was sporting: “Next year, I will be just as happy to return as I was this year,” he concluded.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El campeón de Shanghái se queda sin inspiración: "Ha sido mi peor partido del año"