Francisco Cerundolo had to fight through the longest Queen’s final in history to claim the biggest title of his career, but he could hardly have timed it better.
His parents arrived from their flight from Argentina in just enough time to see their son triumph – despite his father’s fear of flying.
Cerundolo had never won a title above ATP 250 level before and it looked as though his wait would continue when he went a set and a break down against American Tommy Paul.
But after an enthralling three hours and two minutes on court, a triumphant Cerundolo threw himself to the floor in celebration after a 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-3 victory.
“They took the plane yesterday evening. I knew they were landing in London around 14:30 [BST],” he said.
“I knew if the match is short, they wouldn’t arrive to the tournament but if the match was longer, maybe they could.”
But Cerundolo did not know for certain if his dad would even make it to London.
“My dad has a phobia of planes. Since I was born, I never travelled with him and he never came to watch me in tournaments,” he said.
“Last year he started taking therapy and trying to approach his fear.
“Last week, he was saying ‘I will go to the grass season’. He always loved London and always loved grass, and he never came.
“Me, my brother and my sister were saying ‘OK dad, until you are on the plane we don’t believe you’.”
Cerundolo did not see his parents arrive during the match, but he celebrated the victory with them and the trio posed for photos with the iconic trophy afterwards.
A fan favourite at Queen’s Club this week, Argentina’s Cerundolo delighted the crowds in London with his fierce forehand winners and never-give-up mentality.
The 27-year-old has had a Diego Maradona shirt draped on a chair in his players’ box all week to act as inspiration.
Four of his five matches went to a decider as he spent 11 hours 33 minutes on court over the past six days.
Cerundolo leaves Queen’s with a second grass-court title under his belt, having previously beat Paul in the Eastbourne final in 2023.
Paul, champion at Queen’s in 2024, missed the opportunity to defend his title last year because of an abdominal injury and looked downcast as Cerundolo celebrated victory on Andy Murray Arena.
“I want to congratulate Francisco and your team. We always seem to have unreal matches and today you were the better player so I am happy for you. Congrats,” Paul said.
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‘The biggest moment of my tennis career’
After winning his first grass-court title at Eastbourne three years ago, Cerundolo – who grew up playing on clay courts – did not win a single match on the surface in 2024 and 2025.
“We don’t have many grass courts back home,” Cerundolo said.
“The first time I played [on grass was in the Wimbledon qualifiers in 2021].
“After that I’ve won two grass-court titles, so it’s incredible.”
His decision to fly to the UK to practise on grass before this year’s tournament has reaped rewards.
Cerundolo broke first in the opening set but failed to serve it out as momentum stayed with Paul in the tie-break.
In a tight second set, the players traded breaks and saved multiple break points each before Paul’s level faltered and Cerundolo struck a decisive blow at 5-4 to force a decider.
Cerundolo broke first in the third set, but his emotions threatened to boil over when he squandered a 40-0 lead on serve and Paul carved out two break-back points.
The South American let out a huge cry of “vamos” as he clung on to hold, although he was left disgruntled after four championship points went by.
But at the fifth time of asking, Cerundolo hammered home his 27th winner of the day to finally seal victory.
“This is the biggest moment of my tennis career by far,” he told BBC TV.
“Coming from Argentina, winning my first ATP 500 tournament at Queen’s – such a historic event.
“I would never imagine lifting this trophy in my whole life and now I am the winner, so I am just super happy and proud of myself.”
Cerundolo is the first Argentine to win the title at Queen’s, although David Nalbandian came close in 2012, having been a set up against Marin Cilic when he was defaulted for kicking an advertising board and hurting a line judge.
Cerundolo will be one of the 32 seeded players when Wimbledon begins on Monday, 29 June.
And Britain’s Davis Cup captain Leon Smith believes Cerundolo’s “unique forehand” gives him a “huge opportunity” to conquer any surface.
“His game is so big. The backhand has been rock solid – it’s a flat shot so it’s going through the court – but his uniqueness is his forehand,” Smith said on BBC TV.
“It’s a huge weapon and if the conditions stay as they are – fast, with the ball moving through the air – he’s got a huge opportunity.”
Later on Sunday, Britain’s Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara fell to a 6-4 6-3 defeat by El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo and Croatia’s Mate Pavic in the men’s doubles final.
