Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, 19th player in the world, won the ATP Eastbourne grass tournament on Saturday by dominating American Tommy Paul (17th) in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Cerundolo becomes the first Argentine to win an ATP tournament on grass since Javier Frana in Nottingham in 1995, two days before the start of Wimbledon.
Interrupted in the semi-finals on Friday by the rain when he was leading 2-6, 7-5, 5-2 against another American, Mackenzie McDonald, he had to finish his match at the end of the morning, while Paul began his against the French Grégoire Barrère. Winner in 1h13 and 6-4, 6-3, Paul did not seem to have left too much energy in this fight.
The final started with an exchange of breaks between the two players who then held their commitment until 5-4 in favor of Cerundolo. At 30-40, a ball which seemed too long and which the American had returned without conviction outside the court, was announced as a fault but contested by the Argentinian, almost more by reflex and frustration than by conviction. Video refereeing confirmed minimal contact between the ball impact and the line, giving him the set almost to everyone’s amazement.
Unquestioningly, Paul started the second set strong, taking twice the opposing engagement to lead 4-0, but on a slip, he seemed to hurt his left hip, calling on the physio to change position. side at 4-1. This injury seemed to disconcert Cerundolo and free the American who played without complex, even if he sometimes limped between the points.
He pocketed the set 6-1 with a third break in the set before his opponent finally agreed to take advantage of his weakness by using drop shots or running him from the baseline. In the seventh game, Paul ended up giving up his engagement and the Argentinian spun towards victory which held out his arms.
