In the ever-evolving tapestry of professional tennis, where underdog stories capture hearts and spark endless debates, a fresh controversy has taken center stage. Retired American powerhouse John Isner, renowned for his thunderous serves and marathon matches, has stirred the pot by suggesting that Valentin Vacherot’s improbable triumph at the Rolex Shanghai Masters might eclipse one of the sport’s most celebrated fairy tales: Emma Raducanu’s groundbreaking 2021 US Open win. While Isner framed his opinion as a nod to the sheer improbability of Vacherot’s feat, the comment has divided the tennis community, drawing sharp rebukes from fans who view it as an unfair diminishment of Raducanu’s legacy. As the dust settles on Shanghai’s courts, this comparison highlights the subjective nature of greatness in a sport where context, pressure, and personal narratives intertwine.
Valentin Vacherot’s rise in Shanghai was the stuff of legends, a tale that seemed scripted for Hollywood. The 25-year-old Monegasque player, languishing at No. 204 in the world rankings, entered the tournament as a qualifier alternate, barely scraping through his initial matches. He was two points from elimination in the second qualifying round, a moment that could have ended his campaign before it truly began. Yet, Vacherot turned the tide with remarkable resilience, navigating a brutal draw filled with top-tier talent. His path included stunning upsets over world No. 4 Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and a dominant 6-3, 6-4 victory against an injury-plagued Novak Djokovic in the semifinals—the Serbian legend hampered by a persistent hip issue that limited his mobility. The climax came in the final against his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, ranked No. 54, where Vacherot rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This victory not only made him the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Masters 1000 history but also marked Monaco’s first-ever ATP singles title. The prize? A life-changing £824,000, more than doubling his career earnings and propelling him into the spotlight. Reflecting on his journey, Vacherot admitted to moments of doubt: “I was starting to lose faith this year,” but credited the win to a rediscovered self-belief, even sharing a light-hearted anecdote about side-eyeing Roger Federer while playing in front of the Swiss maestro.
On the other side of the comparison stands Emma Raducanu’s unforgettable 2021 US Open odyssey, a benchmark for improbable success. At just 18 years old and fresh out of high school, the British teenager arrived in New York as a virtual unknown, ranked outside the top 150 with minimal WTA Tour experience. She powered through three qualifying rounds without dropping a set, then stormed the main draw with equal dominance. Over 10 matches, Raducanu conceded zero sets, dismantling opponents like Sara Sorribes Tormo, Belinda Bencic, and in the final, Leylah Fernandez, whom she defeated 6-4, 6-3. As the first qualifier in the Open Era to claim a Grand Slam title—male or female—her run transcended tennis, inspiring millions and revitalizing interest in the women’s game in the UK. It was a pressure cooker of a tournament, played under the intense scrutiny of Flushing Meadows, and Raducanu handled it with poise beyond her years.
Enter John Isner, who weighed in on the “Nothing Major Show” podcast, igniting the firestorm. “I think it is more impressive, yes,” Isner stated, comparing the two achievements. He elaborated: “[For Raducanu] it’s a bigger story because it’s the US Open, but I think this is more improbable than what she did. I am giving it to Vacherot there. It’s just unheard of.” Isner’s rationale centered on the statistical unlikelihood of Vacherot’s win at a Masters 1000 event against a stacked field, even as he acknowledged the grandeur of Raducanu’s Slam victory.
The backlash was swift and unrelenting, with fans flocking to social media to defend Raducanu’s honor. Many highlighted the disparity in prestige between a Grand Slam and a Masters tournament, as well as Raducanu’s tender age and lack of professional seasoning. “These people must leave Emma Raducanu alone. Celebrate the new guy alone,” one fan implored, capturing the sentiment of exhaustion with constant critiques of the Brit. Another dismissed Isner’s view outright: “Ridiculous claim. The best players weren’t even there.” Accusations of bias surfaced, with a user pointing out: “The misogyny in tennis is crazy. She literally won a grand slam in her teens. He won a masters and is nearly 30.” A particularly scathing take targeted the podcast itself: “Top three worst takes to come from the nothing major pod. which is impressive considering sam querrey exists.” Delving deeper, fans dissected the feats: “Emma was 18 and had just finished school. She was a rookie and a qualifier who won without losing a set. A Slam. Bigger than a 28 year old qualifier winning a Masters irrespective of who they faced. You can only play who is in front of you.” Another echoed the frustration: “People are so twisted when it comes to Raducanu. She won a slam. Her win as a qualifier >>>.” The outcry underscores a broader pattern of scrutiny Raducanu has faced since her breakthrough, from injury setbacks to coaching changes, often amplified by media and former players.
This debate arrives amid a tough stretch for Raducanu in 2025. At the Ningbo Open this week, the now-22-year-old battled health issues in her first-round match against Zhu Lin, calling for multiple medical timeouts amid sweltering conditions. Despite a gritty effort, she fell 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in nearly 90 minutes, marking her second consecutive early exit following a withdrawal in Wuhan. “It’s at the end of the season, so you need to push harder physically, you’re feeling it a bit more, and mentally as well, to just focus,” Raducanu reflected on the demands of the tour. Her absence from Shanghai due to scheduling and recovery needs only added fuel to discussions about her trajectory.
Ultimately, Isner’s provocation serves as a reminder of tennis’s rich history of comparing eras and exploits, but it also reveals the passion fans hold for icons like Raducanu. Vacherot’s Shanghai glory is undeniably remarkable, a beacon for journeymen everywhere, yet Raducanu’s US Open remains a touchstone of youthful audacity. As the ATP and WTA seasons wind down toward the Finals, this discourse might just inspire both players to new heights—proving that in tennis, every victory, no matter how improbable, adds a unique thread to the sport’s enduring narrative.
Leave a Reply