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The Tennis Letter

@thetennisletter.bsky.social

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Want to know the 411 & keep up with all the hot gossip? Look no further. ATP/WTA news, history & memes. 200K+ on X. Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2363472 Free Weekly Newsletter: https://thetennisletter.substack.com/

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · Mar 9

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 5h

Coco Gauff has won her first 9 hard court finals.

She is the first woman to achieve this in the Open Era.

She is also the first woman to win 9 consecutive hard court finals since Serena Williams in 2015.

Unreal stuff.

🇺🇸❤️

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 6h

Gauff d. Pegula 6-4 7-5

Down 3-5 in the 2nd set.

Coco lifts the Wuhan title for the first time, her 3rd WTA 1000 title.

✅11th career title
✅Won 9 of last 10 matches
✅32nd top 10 win

Finding a new gear at the end of the year.

Coco's been making a habit out of it..

🇺🇲

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 6h

I’m crying, they’re crying, everyone’s crying.

🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 6h

Arthur Rinderknech started cramping during the trophy ceremony after his loss to his cousin Valentin Vacherot in the Shanghai final.

Valentin: “Can we get some help please?” 😭😭😭

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 6h

Arthur Rinderknech said some beautiful words after his loss to his cousin Valentin Vacherot in the Shanghai final:

"Thank you to my wife, she's amazing. Thank you to your parents [Vacherot's], thanks to my parents.. because we're here because of them. Thank you to all my family." 🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 6h

Arthur Rinderknech speaking through tears to his cousin Valentin Vacherot during his finalist speech in Shanghai.

“Two cousins are stronger than one.”

What a beautiful moment. 🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 7h

Valentin Vacherot’s total prize money for his career before Shanghai:

$594,077.

His prize money for winning Shanghai:

$1,124,380.

He basically doubled it in the span of 2 weeks.

Life-changing. 🥹

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 7h

Valentin Vacherot signs the camera after beating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the Shanghai final:

“Grandpa and Grandma would be proud.”

🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 7h

Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech sitting on the bench together after the Shanghai final.

Just two cousins living their dream. 🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 7h

Valentin Vacherot after beating his cousin in Shanghai to become lowest ranked Masters 1000 Champion in history

“It’s really tough that there has to be one loser today. I think there’s just two winners today. One family that won. For the sport of tennis, the story is just unreal.”🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 7h

The moment Valentin Vacherot became the 1st man from Monaco to win a Masters singles title

From alternate to qualifier to beating Bublik, Rune, & Djokovic… to hugging his own cousin at the very end

One of the best sports stories you’ll ever hear

🇲🇨🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 7h

Vacherot d. Rinderknech 4-6 6-3 6-3 in Shanghai

World #204 Valentin is a Masters 1000 champion

He came here as an alternate hoping to get into qualifying.

He leaves as the lowest ranked man in history to win a Masters 1000 title.

Couldn’t have written a better tennis story if you tried.

🇲🇨❤️

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Meddy reaching semis in Beijing and Shanghai we were right there man

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Rinderknech hitting the Spidey squat

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Rinderknech spoke beautifully about him and his cousin Vacherot reaching the Shanghai final

“The finalist you’re playing tomorrow is your cousin. What does it mean to you? Is this all part of some crazy tennis dream?”

Arthur: “I don’t know. In the best dreams we couldn’t have dreamt about this.”🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Valentin Vacherot hugs his cousin Arthur Rinderknech after he beat Medvedev to reach the Shanghai final

Right after the biggest win of his life, he stayed to watch Arthur achieve the biggest moment of his own life

Both having the week of their lives

Both peaking at the same time

A family thing 🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will face each other in the final of Wuhan.

Pegula leads the head to head 4-2 and has won 3 of their last 4 meetings.

They haven't played this season.

All American showdown.

Who wins the title? 🏆

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Jessica Pegula d. Sabalenka 2-6 6-4 7-6

Down 2-5 in the 3rd.

Pegula becomes the only player to beat Aryna in Wuhan, snapping her 20 match win streak.

She also snaps Aryna’s streak of 19 consecutive tiebreaks won.

Into her 6th final of 2025.

✅20th final
✅24th top 10 win

Massive win. 🇺🇸

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Novak Djokovic did not want to speak about his physical issues after his loss to Vacherot:

‘I want to congratulate Valentin… Going from qualifications, it's an amazing story… it’s all about him’

(via Shanghai Press)

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Coco Gauff becomes the youngest woman in history to reach both the Beijing final and the Wuhan final.

21 years old & getting stronger every year.

🇺🇸❤️

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Novak Djokovic and Valentin Vacherot had a beautiful moment at the net after their match in Shanghai

Novak: "You deserve it. You played unbelievable. Keep it going."

Valentin: "Such a pleasure to play at least once against you. Don't retire." 🥹

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Valentin Vacherot after beating Djokovic in Shanghai to become lowest ranked man in history to reach a Masters final

“I just wanna say thank you to everyone who put a little brick into my career, because they taught me how to be down on earth and to fight. This is probably why I’m here today.” 🥹

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Coco Gauff after beating Jasmine Paolini to reach Wuhan final

“Jasmine was leading 3-0 in the head to head record. How happy are you to win this high intensity match?”

Coco: “Well it’s just 3-0 this year… I think it’s even now” 😭😭😭

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The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

Valentin Vacherot after beating Novak Djokovic to reach Shanghai final:

"Just to be on the other side of the court was already an unbelievable experience. I've got so much to learn from this match... from him. Even from myself, I've got a lot to give." 🥹

The Tennis Letter @thetennisletter.bsky.social · 1d

The moment Valentin Vacherot beat Novak Djokovic to reach the Shanghai final

World #204 becomes the lowest ranked player EVER to reach a Masters final

The first player from Monaco to reach a Masters final

It’s his fairytale, we’re just living in it 🥹

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