By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday June 23, 2024
Tommy Paul secured his biggest career title - and first on grass - at Queen's Club on Sunday.
Photo Source: TTV
Tommy Paul raised the iconic trophy at Queen’s Club and celebrated a number of impressive personal milestones on Sunday in London.
The 27-year-old American, coming of age like never before in 2024, claimed his biggest ATP title and his first on grass, defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 7-6(8) in 91 minutes. For his efforts, the laid back, effortlessly athletic New Jersey native will become the top-ranked American for the first time in Monday’s ATP rankings.
Paul, the first American winner at the prestigious Queen’s Club since 2010, joins legendary Americans Stan Smith (1), John McEnroe (4), Jimmy Connors (3), Pete Sampras (2) and Andy Roddick (4) on the tournament's Hall of Honor.
What does winning such a significant title mean to the American?
“Everything,” Paul said. “Going through the hallways in here, in the locker room, the names that are on the wall – it’s unbelievable. It was my goal always to put my name next to them.”
Paul claims his third ATP title, and second of 2024, but he had to work hard to finish off 22-year-old Musetti. The 30th-ranked Italian broke Paul as he served for the title at 6-1, 5-4, then forced a second-set tiebreak.
Musetti, who had a set point at 7-6, staved off a pair of match points before Paul converted his third.
“Definitely one of the nicest weeks of my career so far,” Musetti told the appreciative crowd after the final. “I want to congratulate Tommy because he deserved to win. I was really struggling to get to his level. I saved face a little bit at the end with a break and fighting really hard to try to get to the third set.”
Musetti, who became a father to baby boy Ludovico in March, had kind words for the tournament and his bambino as well.
“It’s probably one of the nicest weeks on the tour – everytime I step on this fantastic court I’m really happy to play tennis and to have chosen tennis as a sport,” he said. “I want to dedicate this special week to my little boy Ludo, I want to come back and hug him.”
Paul will rise to No.12 in the ATP rankings on Monday, leapfrogging Taylor Fritz, who drops to No.13. He is the fourth active player to spend time as the top-ranked American man, along with Fritz, Ben Shelton and Reilly Opelka.
Paul improves to 3-3 in ATP finals, while Musetti drops to 2-1 lifetime in finals.