Tommy Paul wins Queen’s, becomes American men’s tennis No. 1

Tommy Paul will become the American men’s tennis No. 1 for the first time in his career Monday after defeating Italian Lorenzo Musetti to win the Queen’s title in London.

Paul, currently ranked No. 13, will replace compatriot Taylor Fritz as world No. 12 after his 6-1, 7-6(8) win over world No. 30 Musetti, who will rise to No. 25 himself Monday.

His high-energy, on-the-spot movement and moments of guile overwhelmed Musetti in the first set. Paul streaked away into first a 3-0 and then a 5-1 lead, at times looking as if he was floating over the grass, a surface on which he had never previously won a title. It looked as if he had broken the back of the match when he broke Musetti and promptly held serve to move 5-3 up, but the Italian rallied impressively, hitting a stunning backhand return winner down the line to break back and level the match at 5-5.

He then took a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak, as Paul erred in his execution for the first time in the entire match, but the American recovered himself by reestablishing the inside-out forehand to backhand pattern that had helped him win the first set so comfortably. Musetti had managed to blunt that route of attack using his formidable slice and ability to consistently and accurately block service returns on both wings, but Paul was able to reintroduce it when it mattered, even after missing a regulation smash at 4-4 after a cat-and-mouse point.

This is the third and biggest ATP Tour title of the 27-year-old’s career, having previously won two ATP 250 events in Stockholm and Dallas. He will now look ahead to Wimbledon on July 1 with more confidence in making a deep run, hoping to build on a semifinal appearance at the 2023 Australian Open, which is his best Grand Slam result to date.

Pegula victorious in Berlin

Paul’s compatriot Jessica Pegula also won her maiden grass-court title on Sunday, after beating American women’s No. 1 and doubles partner Coco Gauff in their rain-affected semifinal that morning in Berlin.

Pegula needed to win just four more points after they resumed at 7-5, 6-6 (3-1).

In the final, the world No. 5 saved five championship points against Russian Anna Kalinskaya to win 6-7 (0-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3), having been down 4-1 in the deciding set. Pegula skipped the French Open, despite feeling like playing was possible, in order to focus on the upcoming grass season, and the decision appears to have paid dividends already.

This story will be updated. 

(Photo: Zac Goodwin / PA Images via Getty Images)