“I would never imagine lifting this trophy” – Francisco Cerundolo on historic HSBC Championships title
• 3 minute read
The biggest title of his career, the first Queen’s Club champion from Argentina, and getting to celebrate with his family – it was a day to remember for Francisco Cerundolo at the HSBC Championships.
Cerundolo fought back from a set and a break down against former champion Tommy Paul to beat the American 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in what was the longest final in Queen’s Club history.
It was a landmark moment for the 27-year-old, who was competing in his first ATP 500 final against one of the in-form players from the 2026 season.
The Argentinian played three three-set matches in the build up to the final and once again showed his fight to save three break points in the deciding set of the final.
After punching away a smash on his fifth match point, he collapsed to the ground – half in celebration and half exhaustion after a tough week in West London.
“It feels incredible,” he said speaking to press after the final. “Winning my first ATP 500 here in Queen's, such a historical event. So many great champions, legends, it's something amazing.
“I would never imagine lifting this trophy my whole life, but here I am, the winner of the week.
“It was another battle. I'm super tired right now, but yeah, it was tough. After losing the first set, one hour and something after serving for the set. Yesterday and the day before I played almost three hours every match, so mentally I was a little bit down.
“I said to myself, we fought the whole week, we compete the whole week, now is the last day, we have to give it all, give it my chance to compete until the last point, and that's what I did.”
Cerundolo and Paul have history in grass court finals, having previously met in the 2023 Eastbourne final, where the Argentine also came out on top.
He’s one of only three men to win both titles, joining Andy Roddick and Feliciano Lopez.
It was a high-quality match from start to finish, with both players testing every inch of each other’s game and mental resolve.
“With Tommy, we know each other a lot. We’ve play many, many times. Onn grass four times, it's incredible to play four times a guy in the grass season.
“We know each other a lot. It's like a chess game, because I know how he plays and he knows how I play.
“I think it was a battle. Three hours out there, competing, really close games, all of them. Advantage for him, for me. It was super tight.
“He's a really complete player, and I have a lot of respect towards him.”
Sunday was Father’s Day in both the UK and Argentina, and Cerundolo delivered his Dad the greatest gift of all.
Cerundolo’s parents arrived in the crowd just moments before the end of the match, having flown in from Argentina that day.
It was particularly special for the new Queen’s champion as it’s the first time his Dad has flown out to see him play outside of his home country.
“My mum, she usually travels. When me and my brother are in the same tournament, she tries to come so she can see us at the same moment, because if not, we're away from home a lot.
“My Dad used to travel before, but when I was born, he stopped because he hated planes and he couldn't handle it.
“Last year he started taking therapy and trying to approach his fear. Yeah, during last week, he was saying, I will go to the grass season. He always loved London and always loved grass, and he never came.
“I knew if the match is short, they wouldn't arrive to the tournament, but if the match was longer, maybe they could arrive. I just saw them when I went to celebrate with my team in the corner.”
He’s set to join his brother, Juan Manuel Cerundolo in Eastbourne this week. Both the Cerundolo brothers are now inside the top-50 following Juan Manuel’s run at Roland Garros, where he beat world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
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