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'It's such an honour': Vacherot relishing showdown with Alcaraz on home soil

Monaco's Valentin Vacherot in action during his quarter-final match against Australia's Alex De Minaur in Monte Carlo
Monaco's Valentin Vacherot in action during his quarter-final match against Australia's Alex De Minaur in Monte CarloReuters / Manon Cruz

Monaco's Valentin Vacherot said he was relishing the chance ⁠to take on world number one Carlos Alcaraz in front of friends and family after ‌his fairytale run at the Monte Carlo Masters took him ‌into the semi-finals on home soil.

Vacherot, who was ‌ranked outside the top 200 before his shock Shanghai ‌Masters triumph last year, downed Alex De Minaur ‌6-4 3-6 6-3 in front of roaring fans on Friday and became the first Monegasque player to reach the ‌last-four at Monte Carlo.

World number two ⁠Jannik Sinner, who ‌has the opportunity to reclaim top spot from Alcaraz, meets ​the third-ranked Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final.

"It's such an honour to be part ​of the semi-finals with the three best players of the past few years," Vacherot said shortly after ⁠his win in ​Monte Carlo on Friday.

"I can't wait to play Carlos in my hometown, it's amazing.

"The guys in the crowd chanting, they're my best friends from when I ‌was nine or 10 years old. It's rare for a player to have this chance to have this many people around.

"I'm so lucky to have a tournament in my club."

Vacherot is projected to break into the top 20 when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday. Alcaraz was left impressed by the 27-year-old's rise.

"It's impressive, his story. He ‌has a lot of motivation playing at home," ​Alcaraz said shortly before Vacherot set up their ‌last-four clash, which takes place later on Saturday.

"He has won great matches this tournament this year. I've never played against him before; I just practised with him once at Indian Wells. ⁠I know he's ⁠a pretty tough opponent ‌to play."

Follow the Monte Carlo semi-finals here.

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