Tommy Paul takes the throne on the Queen’s grass | ATP Tour

London Queen’s Club

Paul takes the throne on Queen’s Lawn

The American lifts his second trophy of 2024

June 23, 2024

The upper part of the circuit opens its arms to welcome the arrival of Tommy Paul. The American won the biggest title of his career this Sunday at the Cinch Championships at Queen’s, placing his name in one of the most traditional tournaments on the ATP Tour. On the London grass, where history is breathed on all four sides, the North American completed one of his great feats to confirm his landing on the front line of the locker room.

The No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings prevailed in a duel of increasing equality in the British capital, beating Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 7-6(8) after one hour and 31 minutes of play. Against one of the most versatile players on the circuit, capable of varying the pace in each exchange, Paul imposed his sobriety to find the path to victory. The American managed to save a set point in the second set, capturing a match that could have had dramatic overtones at Queen’s.

“Hear the names [de los antiguos campeones] in the locker room it is something incredible. “It was my goal to put my name next to yours,” acknowledged an emotional Paul. “I have to thank my entire team.”

Mastering the grass allows Paul to continue writing one of his most special seasons. The American, who lifted the Dallas trophy in February, has won multiple ATP Tour titles in the same season for the first time in his career. With a record of 3-3 in tour-level finals, Tommy inaugurated his record in Stockholm in the 2021 season.

After opening his grass season in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the American has shown total adaptation to the surface this week in the British capital. Paul has managed to make his way to the cup by only losing one round in the entire tournament, including victories against the local idol Jack Draper – executioner of the current champion Carlos Alcaraz, or Sebastian Korda, semi-finalist in the last two editions of the tournament.

Thanks to the victory, which will equal his best historical position as world No. 12, Paul will become the American No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings this Monday for the first time in his career. The one from New Jersey will take the baton from his compatriot Taylor Fritz at the national top.

For his part, Musetti was one step away from lifting a grass trophy for the first time in his career. The Italian, who reached his first ATP Tour final of the 2024 season, made sure to climb five positions to No. 25 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. With this valuable momentum on the surface, Lorenzo will complete his grass season by competing at Wimbledon.

Did you know…?
Tommy Paul is the ninth American tennis player to lift the cinch Championships singles title at Queen’s. The one from New Jersey, completing his first great feat on grass, follows in the footsteps of his compatriots Stan Smith (1971), Jimmy Connors (1972, 1982-83), John McEnroe (1979-81, 1984), Tim Mayotte (1986) , Todd Martin (1994), Pete Sampras (1995, 1999), Andy Roddick (2003-05, 2007) and Sam Querrey (2010).