Those who still think Vaccello’s victory in Shanghai was some kind of fluke must now re-evaluate their views.
Vaccello continues to show supreme confidence and clarity on pressure points and he is proving any lingering cynics in Paris wrong.
Winning 10 matches at the Masters, the ATP’s most prestigious tournament level after the Grand Slams, is no mean feat.
In defeating Norrie, Vaccello became only the second male player outside the top 20 to achieve such a feat.
Vaccello’s powerful serve is an obvious weapon that allows him to take the pressure off in crucial moments.
But the 6-foot-4 right-hander is far from just a “serving robot,” showing he can also hold his own against one of the best Norrie athletes on tour.
He fearlessly refused to stray from his risk-reward game, and his forehand, as crucial as his serve, continued to pay off.
Reaching the quarterfinals moved his live ranking into the top 30 in the world. It’s a shocking and unexpected improvement that puts him on track to be seeded at January’s Australian Open.
