Tommy Paul etched his name into the annals of American tennis history by capturing the Queen’s Club Championships title. He achieved this triumph by overcoming Lorenzo Musetti in a hard-fought final match, winning 6-1, 7-6 (10/8). This victory marks Paul’s third ATP tour title and his most significant career achievement. He secured the win in a swift 88 minutes on the London court, showcasing his dominance throughout the match. This accomplishment makes Paul the first American player to claim the prestigious Wimbledon warm-up tournament since Sam Querrey in 2010. He now joins a distinguished list of former American champions at Queen’s, including legends like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Pete Sampras, all of whom went on to conquer Wimbledon.
Paul expressed his immense pride in this achievement, stating, “It means everything.” He spoke about the significance of joining the names etched on the walls of the locker room, acknowledging his ambition to place his name alongside those of tennis greats. The world number 13 will also surpass compatriot Taylor Fritz to become the new American number one, setting the stage for Wimbledon, which begins on July 1.
The match witnessed Paul dominating the first set before Musetti mounted a spirited comeback. Paul, the 27-year-old American, faced a challenging situation in the second set, failing to serve out the match at 5-4 up. However, he showcased resilience, recovering from a 1-4 deficit in the tie-break and saving a set point at 6-7. Musetti, in turn, saved two match points behind his own serve before Paul seized the opportunity to clinch the title.
Musetti acknowledged Paul’s well-deserved victory, commenting, “This was definitely one of the nicest weeks of my career so far. Congratulations to Tommy, he deserved to win. I was struggling to get to his level.” He added, “I saved face a bit at the end with the break. I was fighting really hard to get to the third set.”
The 22-year-old Italian, who welcomed his first child, Ludovico, in March, dedicated his performance to his son, expressing his desire to return home and embrace him.
