Queen’s Club Final: Cerundolo Survives Paul Comeback to Clinch Title
Queen’s Club champion: Seventh seed Francisco Cerundolo beat defending champ Tommy Paul for his first ATP 500 title. He became the first Argentine to win the pre-Wimbledon event.
Cerundolo wins longest Queen’s final ever over Tommy Paul 6-7, 6-4, 6-3...
Seventh seed Francisco Cerundolo beat American Tommy Paul in a tough Queen’s Club final on Sunday to win the biggest title of his career, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3.
Cerundolo had three match points when Paul served at 2-5 in the third, including one on a net cord, but missed them all. He closed it out on his own serve in the next game to win his first ATP 500 trophy.
He dropped to the court in relief after smashing a final winner to finish the longest final in Queen’s Club history at 3 hours and 2 minutes.
Cerundolo became the first Argentine to win the pre-Wimbledon event. He took the hard route, going to a deciding set in four of his five matches and spending about 12 hours on court all week.
“Coming from Argentina and winning my first ATP 500 at such an historical event, I could never imagine it,” Cerundolo, whose parents arrived during the final to watch him, told the BBC.
“I'm super happy and super proud of myself.”
Cerundolo also defeated Paul in the Eastbourne final in 2023 for his first grasscourt title.
It made the win even more special for Cerundolo because his father Alejandro was in the stands. Alejandro has never watched him play overseas before due to a fear of flying.
“He only watched me in Buenos Aires and in Davis Cup. I think they just arrived when I was 5-3 up in the third,” he said.
Paul, who won Queen’s in 2024, seized control in a tight match packed with hard-hitting baseline exchanges. He took the first set tiebreak after breaking Cerundolo to love while the Argentine served for it.
The 29-year-old American went up a break in the second, but his level dropped. Cerundolo pounced and forced a deciding set in the tense final.
Cerundolo looked fresher in the third and edged ahead. He held his nerve despite a shaky finish to claim his second career title on grass.
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