Cerundolo battles past Paul to win Queen’s title

LONDON (Agencies): Seventh seed Francisco Cerundolo out-lasted American Tommy Paul in a gruelling Queen’s Club final to claim the biggest title of his career ​on Sunday, winning 6-7(4) 6-4 6-3. Cerundolo squandered three match points as Paul ‌served at 2-5 in the decider, one with a net cord, but finished the job in the next game on his serve to win his first ATP 500 title. He collapsed to the ​court in relief after pummelling away a smash to end the longest ​final in the grasscourt tournament’s history at three hours and two ⁠minutes. Cerundolo is the first player from Argentina to win the prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament and ​he did it the hard way, winning four of his five matches in a ​deciding set and spending around 12 hours in total on court. “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 beat Paul in the final to win his previous grasscourt title at Eastbourne ‌in ⁠2023.

It was an extra special moment for Cerundolo as his father Alejandro, who has never seen him play overseas because of a fear of flying, was in the crowd. “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, the Queen’s champion in 2024, looked to have got the upper hand in a high-quality duel ​full of fierce baseline rallies as he won the opening set ​tiebreak, having ⁠broken Cerundolo’s serve to love when the Argentine served for the set. The 29-year-old American was a break ahead in the second set but his level dipped and Cerundolo took ⁠full ​advantage to send a gripping final into a decider. Cerundolo ​looked the fresher player as he moved ahead in the third and despite a few nerves, he ​held firm to win his second career grasscourt title.