Paul wins Queen’s to follow in footsteps of John McEnroe and Pete Sampras

TOMMY PAUL outgunned Lorenzo Musetti to win the biggest title of his career and join an illustrious US club of champions at London’s Queen’s Club tournament.

The 27-year-old fifth seed was crowned the new king of Queen’s with a 6-1 7-6 (8) victory in an hour and 28 minutes.

Paul became the first US winner of the prestigious pre-Wimbledon meet since Sam Querrey in 2010 and joined a glittering group of former champions from across the pond including John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras.

Paul, who knocked out Britain’s Jack Draper in the quarter-finals, said: “It means everything.”

The world number 13 will also overtake compatriot Taylor Fritz to become the new US number one.

Paul looked set to run away with the match after serving for it at 5-4 in the second set, but Italian Musetti found some belated resistance to break back.

In the tie-break, Musetti saved two match points behind his own serve but Paul dispatched the third to seal his victory.

Musetti said: “This was definitely one of the nicest weeks of my career so far.

“Congratulations to Tommy, he deserved to win. I was struggling to get to his level.”