SHANGHAI — It sounds like the plot of a sports movie, but for Monegasque tennis player Valentin Vacherot, it became his reality. A week that began with a quirky set of superstitions shared with his girlfriend, American tennis player Emily Snyder, culminated in a life-changing victory at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, where he defeated the legendary Novak Djokovic to claim the biggest title of his young career.
The journey to this improbable triumph was paved with more than just powerful serves and precise groundstrokes; it was a week governed by a series of bizarre, self-imposed rituals. Vacherot and Snyder, both competing in the tournament, found their routines becoming increasingly intertwined and superstitious as each won their early-round matches, creating a bubble of belief that seemed to defy logic.
The Genesis of the Superstitions
It all started, as these things often do, with a single, seemingly insignificant event. On the first day of the main draw, Vacherot and Snyder, who often travel together on the tour, decided to have lunch at the same Italian restaurant within the Qizhong Tennis Center complex. Vacherot won his match later that afternoon. The next day, they returned. Snyder won her match. A pattern was born.
"It was completely accidental at first," Vacherot recounted in his post-final press conference. "Emily and I had a quick pasta, I went out and played well. The next day, we said, 'Why not?' and it happened again. By the third day, it wasn't a choice anymore. It was a mandate from the tennis gods. We were terrified to break the streak."
This initial ritual quickly spawned others, creating a complex web of must-dos that governed their entire day. The superstitions evolved into a three-part doctrine that they adhered to with religious fervor. Failure to comply with any element was considered unthinkable, a potential jinx that could shatter their momentum.
The Three Pillars of Luck
The couple's routine became a non-negotiable part of their Shanghai campaign. The core superstitions were:
- The Identical Pre-Match Meal: Every single day, at precisely 1:00 PM, they would share a meal of spaghetti aglio e olio and a green salad at the same corner table of "Ristorante Pre-Match," a pop-up eatery in the players' area.
- The Locker Room Handshake: Before walking out onto their respective courts, they would meet at a specific spot between the men's and women's locker rooms and perform an elaborate, multi-step handshake they had invented as juniors, finishing with a synchronized fist bump.
- The Unwashed Socks: The most peculiar of the three: after winning their first-round matches, neither player washed their match socks for the duration of the tournament. "They were... potent by the final," Vacherot admitted with a laugh.
The Unthinkable Path to the Final
While Snyder's run ended in a hard-fought quarterfinal, Vacherot's belief only intensified. He began to see his girlfriend's continued presence and their shared rituals as his good-luck charm. His path to the final was a gauntlet of top-tier opponents, each victory adding more weight to the superstitions. He battled past 10th-seeded Alexander Zverev in a third-set tiebreak and then outlasted a resurgent Marin Cilic in a grueling three-set semifinal.
"Every time I walked off the court, Emily was there, and we'd just look at each other like, 'This is actually working,'" Vacherot said. "It got to the point where I wasn't just playing for myself; I was playing for this weird, magical bubble we had created. I didn't want to be the one to pop it."
The atmosphere in the final was electric. Facing Novak Djokovic, a player with 24 Grand Slam titles and a reputation for mental fortitude, Vacherot was the clear underdog. Yet, those in the know noticed the now-familiar routine: the 1:00 PM lunch spotted by fans, the focused walk to the locker room meeting point. The rituals had carried him to the biggest stage of his life.
Conquering a Giant and Claiming the Crown
The final itself was a masterclass in fearless tennis. Vacherot, riding a wave of confidence that seemed to emanate from his bizarre routine, played the match of his life. He saved a set point in the first-set tiebreak and never looked back, overpowering a sometimes-frustrated Djokovic with blistering forehands and audacious net play. The final score, 7-6(8), 6-4, sent shockwaves through the tennis world.
In the immediate aftermath, as Djokovic offered a gracious handshake at the net, Vacherot's first look was toward his player's box, where a beaming Emily Snyder was on her feet, applauding. When asked about the moment he realized he had won, Vacherot's answer was telling. "It wasn't when the ball went long. It was when I saw Emily's face. That's when I knew our crazy week had actually ended with this."
The victory rocketed Vacherot, previously ranked World No. 78, into the top 30 for the first time and announced his arrival as a serious force on the ATP Tour. For Djokovic, it was a surprising stumble in a season where he has continued to dominate the majors, but he was full of praise for the young champion. "He played lights out. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat and say, 'too good today.'"
Beyond the Superstition: A Bond Forged in Competition
In the cool light of day, with the champion's trophy sitting beside him, Vacherot was philosophical about the role the superstitions played. He acknowledged that while they provided a crucial mental framework and a sense of control, the real work was done on the practice court and in the gym over many years.
"The rituals don't hit the forehand for you," he explained. "But what they do is quiet the noise. When you're facing Djokovic in a final, your mind can go to a thousand scary places. Ours went to pasta, a handshake, and, well, some very stinky socks. It kept us grounded and in the moment."
For Snyder, the experience was a testament to their partnership. "It's a lonely sport a lot of the time," she said. "To share this with someone who understands the pressure, to build this little world of ours for a week, it was special. I'm just so unbelievably proud of him. And I'm definitely doing laundry tonight."
The story of Valentin Vacherot's Shanghai Masters win will be remembered for the stunning victory over a legend. But for those who lived it, it will always be the story of a week where love, luck, and a few very odd habits conspired to create a little bit of tennis magic.