MELBOURNE, Jan 22 - Valentin Vacherot showed his maiden ATP Masters triumph last year was a genuine breakthrough rather than a flash in the pan, after becoming the first player from Monaco to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at the Australian Open on Thursday.

The 27-year-old was catapulted into the limelight at the Shanghai Masters in October when he beat his cousin, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, to win his first ATP title and break into the top 40 from outside 200 in the world rankings.