Francisco Cerundolo defeats Tommy Paul in three sets to win Queen's Club title
Seventh-seeded Francisco Cerundolo rallied past 2024 champion Tommy Paul 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to claim the ATP 500 Queen's Club title, his first at the 500 level and the first by an Argentine on the London grass.
The final
Seventh-seeded Argentine Francisco Cerundolo defeated eighth-seeded American Tommy Paul in three sets at Andy Murray Arena to capture the ATP 500 Queen's Club title on Sunday. The score was 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3, and victory came on Cerundolo's fifth match point. Paul, the 2024 champion, had taken the first set on a tie-break after Cerundolo double-faulted at a crucial moment. Cerundolo broke back early in the second set and held his nerve to level, then pulled away in the decider, leading 5-2 before Paul saved four match points and finally fell on an overhead smash.
Cerundolo's milestone
The 27-year-old right-hander secured his fifth career ATP Tour title and his second on grass, following the ATP 250 at Eastbourne in 2023, where he also beat Paul in the final. The Queen's crown is his first at ATP 500 level. Cerundolo becomes the first Argentine man to win the tournament at the historic Queen's Club. In 2012, David Nalbandian reached the final but was disqualified for injuring a line judge after kicking an advertising board, leaving the title to Marin Cilic.
Rivalry continues
Sunday's result extended Cerundolo's head-to-head record over Paul to 6-2. The two have now met eight times, with Cerundolo winning six of those encounters, including both grass-court meetings. Paul, ranked 28th and a former world No. 8, was aiming for his sixth career title and a second Queen's crown in three years (he missed the 2025 edition with injury). The American had beaten Ugo Humbert in the semifinals but appeared nervous early, getting broken in the opening game of the match.
Wimbledon countdown
The Queen's Club event is the traditional men's warm-up for Wimbledon. This year, the grass-court Grand Slam starts on 29 June and runs through 12 July. Cerundolo's victory gives him a boost on a surface where his only previous success was that Eastbourne run. Paul, a finalist in four tournaments this season, will also head to the All England Club with solid grass-court form.
