Cousin’s speech was so exhausting it caused elder cousin’s leg cramp, creating a memorable moment; Vachier-Lagrave subtly credited Federer for his help.

After the Shanghai Masters ended, people said that from now on, this sole Asian Masters tournament can match the US Open in creating miracles. Monaco’s young talent Vachier-Lagrave was indispensable in this achievement.

This year in Shanghai, Vachier-Lagrave raced from the qualifying rounds straight to the final, claiming the championship in a manner that left a deep impression on everyone. Many who praised the Monaco player’s Shanghai fairy tale also likened him to the British player Raducanu.

In 2021, Raducanu entered the US Open as a qualifier. At that time, the British girl was underestimated but fought her way from the qualifiers into the main draw and then astonishingly won the title, creating a sensational New York fairy tale still often recalled today.

So, four years ago Raducanu made the US Open the world’s focus; this year Vachier-Lagrave has elevated the Shanghai Masters’ reputation. Judging by current public reactions, this topic’s popularity is unlikely to fade and will surely be mentioned repeatedly in the future. Vachier-Lagrave’s story is a grassroots player’s overnight rise crossing social classes, and it happened in Shanghai, giving special meaning to the Masters event.

Therefore, when Vachier-Lagrave almost cried during the award ceremony, nobody was surprised. Not only was such a result unexpected before the tournament, but even Vachier-Lagrave himself likely didn’t dare to dream of this Masters title when he first arrived in Shanghai.

However, when the impossible became possible, suddenly placing Vachier-Lagrave under the spotlight of dream fulfillment, fans worldwide remembered him. Some netizens joked that it was completely normal if the Monaco youngster fainted from joy at that moment.

After winning a Masters title that many players might never achieve in their lifetime, Vachier-Lagrave’s acceptance speech was quite interesting, as if he had endless things to say.

Then, a funny scene occurred! Perhaps cousin Lindgren felt his younger cousin’s speech would never end, so he squatted down on the ground, listening attentively.

When this scene appeared on the broadcast, many fans and viewers humorously said this memorable moment at the ceremony was far more entertaining than the not-so-intense match itself. They admitted seeing players sitting during award ceremonies is rare, but seeing someone squat throughout the ceremony is even more unusual.

Unexpectedly, just after those words, whether due to squatting too long or something else, Lindgren suddenly got a leg cramp when trying to stand up and collapsed right onto the ground.

This unexpected incident involving elder cousin at the ceremony forced younger cousin Vachier-Lagrave to stop speaking and turn his head with a smile toward Lindgren. Some commented that this year’s Shanghai Masters was surprising not only in the final lineup but also in the amusing award ceremony, saying “It’s hard not to remember.”

After Lindgren’s funny episode at the ceremony went viral, everyone wanted to know if he was trying to show his humorous side to liven up the atmosphere or if there was another reason.

The answer didn’t take long to surface, quickly uncovered by the resourceful fans and netizens of this tournament. It also explained why Lindgren’s excellent performance in the first set of the final suddenly faded, leading to his eventual loss to cousin Vachier-Lagrave.

Indeed, Lindgren was simply exhausted!

In the semifinals against Russian star Medvedev, Lindgren had already mentioned the climate made him very tired. His upset over the former world No.1 was a last-ditch effort, hoping to summon a miracle, but in the end, he lost that gamble.

And the final opponent, cousin Vachier-Lagrave, is also a player known for excellent defense. Not fully recovered from the previous match and now facing another tough opponent, losing seemed inevitable.

Looking back at the match, from the second set of the final, it was clear Lindgren’s stamina was declining, which became even more apparent in the deciding set. If not for extreme fatigue, the French elder cousin surely wouldn’t have been squatting at such a grand ceremony—he simply couldn’t stand upright.

Younger cousin Vachier-Lagrave’s post-match comments were even more interesting, suggesting that part of his success owed something to Swiss legend Federer.

“After every point won or lost, I would sneak a glance at him.” During the championship match between Vachier-Lagrave and Lindgren, Federer was watching live. The Monaco player said he often peeked at Federer to see his reactions to his shots, implying he adjusted his tactics accordingly. Seeing Federer motivated him greatly, helping him have an incredible week in Shanghai!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit Starry Sky)