ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 12, 2026

Valentin Vacherot

Mixed Zone

T. PAUL/V. Vacherot

6-4, 6-2

Q. What did Tommy do tonight that made it difficult for you?

VALENTIN VACHEROT: First of all, I just played really bad, but also Tommy made me play bad. He just ran me around pretty well. I wasn't feeling great. I saw pretty quickly that I wasn't feeling great physically also.

All that together, I mean, I tried to fight in the first set. I came back, I was returning well. That was one of the few things that I was doing great today was returning.

I had the break point to get back at 5-All in the first set, and I think once I didn't get that one he also got confident and he played a really, really good second set.

Q. You said you weren't feeling great. Were there any other indications that you might have been headed towards a bit of a flat performance tonight, or was it more just not feeling well?

VALENTIN VACHEROT: No, no, no. No, it was physically, mentally, it was a bit of everything. I don't know if it's because I've been on the road for so long or anything, but no, tonight was probably one of my worst match of the season. Unfortunately, it's here in Shanghai, but it's okay.

Q. Obviously disappointing, but as you look back at what this tournament has done for your career, you're still going to have some good memories.

VALENTIN VACHEROT: Yeah, yeah, that's also why I'm really disappointed. I would rather leave this tournament with a big match, a good fight, I don't know, three sets or something, not just losing 6-4, 6-2.

But it's tennis, you cannot control everything. Especially you cannot control when your opponent is playing really good, like tonight. So, yeah, it's okay. I mean, of course next year I will be as pleased coming back as I was this year.