Tommy Paul added his title to an inventory of American tennis greats in profitable the Queen’s Membership Championships title after defeating Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 7-6 (10/8) in Sunday’s remaining.
Victory gave the fifth-seeded American his third ATP tour title — and largest success of his profession — after he gained in straight units after 88 minutes on courtroom in London.
Paul turned the primary United States participant to win the celebrated Wimbledon warm-up match since Sam Querrey in 2010 as he joined a bunch of former American champions at Queen’s, together with John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras — who all gained Wimbledon as properly.
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“It means all the pieces,” mentioned Paul, who knocked out Britain’s Jack Draper within the quarter-finals.
“Going by way of the hallways right here within the locker room and the names on the wall, it’s unbelievable. It was my aim all the time to place my title subsequent to them.”
The world quantity 13 can even overtake compatriot Taylor Fritz to develop into the brand new American primary, with Wimbledon beginning on July 1.
Paul raced by way of the primary set earlier than Italian opponent Musetti labored his manner again into the match.
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The 27-year-old Paul didn’t serve out the match at 5-4 up within the second set earlier than getting back from 1-4 down within the tie-break and saving a set-point at 6-7.
Musetti saved two match factors behind his personal serve earlier than Paul took the third to safe the title.
“This was positively one of many nicest weeks of my profession thus far,” mentioned Musetti.
“Congratulations to Tommy, he deserved to win. I used to be struggling to get to his stage. I saved face a bit on the finish with the break. I used to be preventing actually laborious to get to the third set.”
The 22-year-old, who turned a father to his first baby in March, added: “I wish to dedicate this week to my little boy Ludovico. I simply wish to return and hug him.”