Cerundolo Claims Biggest Career Title at Queen’s Club
Argentinian tennis player Francisco Cerundolo secured the most significant triumph of his career by defeating American Tommy Paul 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 in a marathon final at Queen’s Club. The match lasted three hours and two minutes, setting a new record for the longest final in the tournament’s history.
Inspiration from Family and Legends
Throughout the week, Cerundolo kept a special presence in his players’ box: the No 10 Argentina shirt worn by Diego Maradona. On the eve of the 40th anniversary of Maradona’s famous Hand of God goal, Cerundolo drew inspiration from the football legend as well as from his father, Alejandro, who had traveled to London to witness his son’s breakthrough victory.
“It is the first time my dad takes a flight and it’s the first time he has watched me outside Argentina,”
“I want to congratulate my dad for taking a plane. It’s Father’s Day, so this is for him.”
Historic Comeback and Record-Breaking Match Duration
Cerundolo faced a challenging start, trailing by a set and a break against Paul before mounting a comeback to win. The match surpassed the previous Queen’s Club final record of two hours and 57 minutes, set in 2018.
“It’s not easy to speak,”
Cerundolo admitted during his victory speech after converting his sixth match point. The 27-year-old’s resilience was evident as he overcame moments of vulnerability to claim the title.
Looking Ahead to Wimbledon
With this victory, Cerundolo now has legitimate aspirations for a strong performance at Wimbledon. Notably, Novak Djokovic is 39 years old, and Alexander Zverev has yet to win a grass-court title. While Jannik Sinner remains the favorite, the ongoing heat dome over London could influence conditions, potentially benefiting Cerundolo’s powerful forehand, which accounted for most of his 27 winners in the final.
Match Dynamics and Turning Points
The final was marked by unpredictable shifts in momentum, beginning with the opening game. Paul, who had reached the final without dropping a set, started erratically and was immediately broken by Cerundolo. The Argentinian then played exceptional tennis until he was broken to love at 5-4 in the first set. Paul eventually won the tiebreak.
In the second set, Paul broke to lead 3-2, putting pressure on Cerundolo and the tournament trophy’s engraver. However, Paul then lost his serve twice in quick succession, allowing Cerundolo to level the match at one set apiece.
By this stage, the on-court temperature had risen to 29.5°C, and the quality of play intensified. Cerundolo broke again at 3-2 in the final set to move within two games of victory but faced further challenges.
He had to save two breakpoints in the following game before extending his lead to 5-2. The match featured five match points before Cerundolo finally sealed the win with an overhand smash.
Sportsmanship and Final Reflections
After the match, Paul acknowledged Cerundolo’s performance graciously.
“We always seem to have unreal matches and today you were the better player.”
The final was defined by Cerundolo’s forehand dominance rather than any supernatural intervention, underscoring his skill and determination.
“Forget the Hand of God. This final was all about the forehand of Francisco.”
