"The dream undreamable": Arthur Rinderknech to face cousin Valentin Vacherot for Shanghai title

“The Dream Undreamble."

That’s the title that first came to mind when Arthur Rinderknech was asked to describe the story that's been written over the past week and a half at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The 30-year-old lined up a remarkable final between cousins at the ATP Masters 1000 event after qualifier Valentin Vacherot earlier made his way through by defeating an ailing Novak Djokovic.

For his part, Rinderknech also knocked out a former event winner in Daniil Medvedev. The Frenchman rallied, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, as the No. 16 seed double faulted long in a moment that sent Rinderknech rolling on his back in disbelief.

“Even in the biggest dream we couldn't have dreamt about this. So it's a dream that couldn't even exist at the beginning. I don't even know where it comes from, how it happened,” he reflected in the mixed zone.

“I guess we must have done some good thing to the people around us, to deserve to experience something like this, because it's incredible, yes.”

🖥️📲 The Match in 15 Minutes: Rinderknech vs. Medvedev, Shanghai

Against Medvedev, Rinderknech erased 10 of the 11 break points he faced. After falling behind, he dug deeper with family on the brain.

“I was getting tired with this humidity of the night. I was like, ‘Okay, I'm just going to fight, try to make him tired at least for Valentin tomorrow, so that he's going to be physically a little bit more tired than Val.’ I tried to help him out already today if I lose,” said Rinderknech.

“Then somehow I broke him. I went into the third set and nobody knows what can happen. I found a way somehow.”

After taking in his latest victory, Rinderknech was embraced on court by Vacherot. No matter Sunday’s outcome, the two will never forget their reality that seemed impossible to dream: sharing the court together in an ATP final.

“Tomorrow night there will be two winners anyway. There's going to be a match, of course, but today we won everything,” asserted Rinderknech. “Tomorrow between us, that's all that matters.”