Vacherot wins Basel title, second ATP crown of career
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Valentin Vacherot came back from a set down to beat Jiří Lehečka 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Swiss Indoors Basel final.
Valentin Vacherot claimed his second ATP title on Sunday, fighting back from a set down to beat Jiří Lehečka 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final of the Swiss Indoors Basel. The Monégasque dropped the opening set but found his rhythm to take the next two and seal the trophy on Swiss soil.
The win adds to a breakthrough year for Vacherot, who has climbed steadily up the rankings and is increasingly recognised as the Principality's leading men's singles player. Basel is one of the longer-standing stops on the ATP calendar, and victory there carries weight beyond the ranking points, putting Monaco back on the tennis map at a time when the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters already gives the Principality a marquee event each spring.
For tennis followers in Monaco, Vacherot's rise has been one of the more compelling sporting storylines of the year, with his progress watched closely by the local club scene and the Fédération Monégasque de Tennis. A second title in his career suggests this is no one-off, and attention will now turn to how he fares as the season moves towards its close.