Vacherot won the Shanghai Masters in October 2025 as a qualifier, defeating Arthur Rinderknecht 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 in the final. He reached a career-high ranking of 17th in April 2026. He had not reached the finals this season, and the win took his record to 25-17.
In Basel, he found that level again. In the final, he will face eighth seed Jiri Lehecka, who came from a set down to beat Jan-Lennard Straff 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
One break, then late
Vacherot broke Fritz in the opening game. Fritz came back to tie it at 2-2 and nobody dropped serve again in the set. Vacherot took the tiebreak 7-5, serving his first set point in 51 minutes.
In the second set, he saved a break point in his first service game. He then broke for 4-3 on his third break point to take a 5-3 lead. Fritz saved two game points before Vacherot converted the third.
Vaccherot held 10 of his 11 service games and won 26, while Fritz won 20.
The win reversed the result of their only previous round match. Fritz defeated him 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the first round in Basel last year.
Vachero opened his week with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Argentina’s Mariano Navone. Then he defeated Spanish Rafael Jodar 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (5). In the quarterfinals, he defeated Danish Holger Rooney with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Next week, he will meet Novak Djokovic in the first round of the Paris Masters 1000.
A costly defeat for Fritz
For Fritz, the defeat came at the worst moment in the struggle for Turin. The No. 6 American remained in 12th place with 2,895 points in the Turin race. Jodar took 9th place with 3209 points. With Yannick Sinner out for the season, ninth place is Turin’s last place this year.
The final run would put Fritz at 3,025 points and the title at 3,195.
Fritz had reached four finals this season without winning a title. The last was in Lyon, where he lost to Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4. Fritz left Basel with the Turin gap still open. Vachero is one win away from another title.
Basel 2026 semi-finals
- Valentin Vacherot (MON) d. Taylor Fritz (USA, 6) 7-6 (5), 6-3
- Type Lehecka (CZE, 8) d. Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
Vacherot’s path to the final
- First stage: d. Mariano Navone (ARG) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
- Second stage: d. Rafael Jodar (ESP, 3) 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (5)
- Quarter finals: d. Holger Ruhn (DEN) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
- Semi-final: d. Taylor Fritz (USA, 6) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Fritz’s road to the semi-finals
- First stage: d. Rinki Hijikata (USA) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
- Second stage: d. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 6-4, 6-3
- Quarter finals: d. Arthur Fils (FRA, 2) 6-2, 2-0 def.
- Semifinals: lost to Valentin Vaccherot (MON) 7-6 (5), 6-3