Phoenix 24
The Argentine completed a remarkable comeback on London grass.
LONDON, United Kingdom | June 2026
Francisco Cerúndolo produced the biggest grass-court triumph of his career by defeating Tommy Paul in the Queen’s Club final and becoming the first Argentine man to win the historic London tournament. The 27-year-old recovered from a set down to prevail 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 after more than three hours of demanding tennis. His victory gives him his first ATP 500 title and allows him to succeed Carlos Alcaraz as champion. It also confirms that his game can thrive on a surface once considered an unlikely fit.
Cerúndolo entered the final as the seventh seed against a player with substantial experience at Queen’s. Paul won the tournament in 2024 and arrived at the championship match without losing a set during the week. The American appeared ready to reclaim the title after surviving an early break and taking the opening set in a tiebreak. Cerúndolo, however, refused to let the missed opportunity determine the rest of the match.
The Argentine began aggressively and broke serve in the opening game. He later served for the first set at 5-4 but could not close it, allowing Paul to recover and force the tiebreak. A double fault contributed to Cerúndolo losing the decisive sequence. The setback was significant because he had controlled important portions of the set before surrendering the advantage.
Paul carried that momentum into the second set and secured another break. At that stage, Cerúndolo appeared close to defeat against an opponent playing with confidence and using the faster conditions effectively. The Argentine then changed the direction of the match by improving his return position and extending the rallies. He won five consecutive games and took the second set 6-4.
The deciding set became a test of physical endurance and mental control. Both players protected their service games during the early stages while searching for one clear opportunity. Cerúndolo found it in the sixth game, breaking Paul and establishing the advantage that would define the final. His consistency from the baseline forced the American to play additional shots under increasing pressure.
Closing the match proved difficult. Paul saved several championship points and forced Cerúndolo to continue serving and attacking with precision. The Argentine missed opportunities but remained composed instead of retreating into defensive tennis. He finally completed the victory with an overhead smash, ending the longest final in Queen’s Club history.
The result represents the fifth ATP title of Cerúndolo’s career and his second on grass. His previous success on the surface came at Eastbourne in 2023, where he also defeated Paul in the final. That earlier title demonstrated that his heavy forehand and physical baseline game could adapt to grass. Queen’s now elevates that ability from an interesting strength into a defining part of his career.
Winning both Eastbourne and Queen’s places Cerúndolo in a select group of players who have captured two of Britain’s principal grass-court events before Wimbledon. The achievement is especially notable because he had little experience on the surface before turning professional. Argentine tennis has historically produced most of its leading results on clay. Cerúndolo’s success expands that national tradition into a very different environment.
He also becomes the first Argentine champion at Queen’s, a tournament with more than a century of history. David Nalbandian had reached the final in 2012 but did not win the title. Guillermo Vilas remains one of Argentina’s most important grass-court champions, yet no Argentine had previously lifted this particular trophy. Cerúndolo’s victory therefore carries historical importance beyond his individual ranking.
His path through the tournament was physically demanding. Four of his five matches required a deciding set, and he spent approximately 12 hours on court during the week. In the semifinal, he defeated Brandon Nakashima after losing the opening set. The repeated comebacks revealed an ability to remain competitive even when matches moved against him.
The emotional significance of the title increased because Cerúndolo’s father was present in the stands. He reportedly has a fear of flying and had never previously watched his son compete outside Argentina. Seeing him witness the greatest title of Cerúndolo’s career gave the celebration a strong family dimension. The champion fell to the grass and kissed the court after completing the final.
The title also comes at an important moment before Wimbledon. Cerúndolo will arrive at the Grand Slam with confidence, match rhythm and evidence that he can defeat strong opponents on grass. His ranking is expected to improve, placing him closer to the world’s top 20. More importantly, he has shown that his game can survive long matches and changing tactical situations.
Carlos Alcaraz had won the 2025 Queen’s title, his second at the tournament, but injuries weakened the 2026 field and prevented several leading players from competing. Cerúndolo took advantage of that opening without receiving an easy route. Paul remained a proven grass-court opponent, and the final required the Argentine to recover from multiple difficult moments. Replacing Alcaraz as champion therefore reflects merit rather than circumstance alone.
Cerúndolo’s game is built around one of the heaviest forehands on the tour, strong physical conditioning and the ability to create angles from the baseline. On grass, he has learned to shorten points without abandoning those strengths. His improved movement and willingness to attack the net have made him less predictable. The Queen’s title shows that adaptation can be as valuable as natural specialization.
Paul leaves London after another strong week but with a painful defeat. He was close to taking control of the final after winning the first set and breaking in the second. Cerúndolo’s response forced him into longer exchanges and gradually reduced the effectiveness of his first serve. The American remained competitive until the final point but could not stop the Argentine’s momentum.
The championship changes the way Cerúndolo will be viewed during the grass season. He is no longer simply a clay-court player capable of producing occasional surprises on faster surfaces. He is now an ATP 500 champion with two grass titles and a proven record against elite opposition. His challenge will be carrying that form into the best-of-five-set demands of Wimbledon.
Cerúndolo’s victory at Queen’s is ultimately a story of resilience. He lost a first set he had nearly won, fell behind again in the second and faced repeated resistance while serving for the championship. At every stage, he found a way to remain aggressive without losing patience. The result was the most important title of his career and a place in Argentine tennis history.
Champions emerge when setbacks become part of the path. / Los campeones surgen cuando los tropiezos se convierten en parte del camino.