What a finish to the week at the Queen’s Club in London! In a match completely worthy of a grand final, Argentine tennis player Francisco Cerundolo managed to pull off another miraculous comeback, defeating the pre-match favorite Tommy Paul with a score of 2-1 (6-7, 6-4, 6-3) after three hours of a fierce, lion-hearted battle.
This was a match decided by the finest of margins – best proven by the fact that Cerundolo won a total of 116 points, while the defeated Paul stopped at 115! The American, who hadn’t dropped a single set leading up to the final, had to congratulate his mentally stronger rival, who played the tennis of his life when it mattered most.
Key Match Statistics
| Statistic | Francisco Cerundolo | Tommy Paul |
| Aces | 1 | 5 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 3 |
| Break Points Saved | 8/10 (80%) | 8/12 (66%) |
| Break Points Won | 4/12 (33%) | 2/10 (20%) |
| Winners | 27 | 31 |
| Unforced Errors | 52 | 41 |
| Total Points Won | 116 | 115 |
| Match Duration | 3 hours and 4 minutes |
Match Flow: Set by Set
1st Set – A marathon and a tiebreak for Paul (6-7)
The first set lasted a grueling 1 hour and 8 minutes. Cerundolo secured a break right at the start, but the American managed to strike back. They played incredibly solid tennis from the baseline, with both players missing break point opportunities (Paul converted only 1 of 6 chances in this set, while Cerundolo took 1 of 2). In the tiebreak, Paul showed more composure, capitalized on a few unforced errors from the Argentine, and claimed it 7-4.
2nd Set – Cerundolo strikes back (6-4)
Even though Paul had the psychological advantage, the Argentine showed in the second set exactly why you should never write him off. Once again, there was a massive battle for every service game. The crucial moment happened at the very end of the set. Cerundolo put pressure on the return, managed to break the American’s serve at 5-4, and leveled the match at one set apiece after 53 minutes of play.
3rd Set – Peak drama and saved match points (6-3)
The deciding set brought a gladiatorial fight. Cerundolo raised his level of play, secured a crucial break, and took a 5-2 lead. The eighth game on Tommy Paul’s serve was pure drama – the American managed to save a staggering 4 match points (ML) in an incredibly long deuce game to narrow the gap to 5-3. However, that only delayed the inevitable. In the very next game, Cerundolo stayed perfectly calm on his serve, earned another match point, and successfully closed out the match to claim the big title.
Key to Success: Break Point Conversion
While Tommy Paul had more winners (31 to 27) and fewer unforced errors (41 to 52), Cerundolo was far more successful in the crucial moments of the match. The Argentine saved an impressive 80% of the break points he faced (8/10), while Paul buckled under pressure four times (4/12). This cold-blooded composure in defending his own serve ultimately tipped the scales in favor of the South American player.
To view all the analyses and reports from the completed tournament in London, visit our main post: ATP London 2026: Complete Guide, Draw, Favourites, and Tactical Analysis!
