LONDON (AP) — Big-serving Matteo Berrettini dropped a set for the first time at the Queen's Club tournament before going on to beat Britain's Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in Sunday's final.
The 25-year-old Berrettini became the first newcomer to triumph at Queen's since Boris Becker in 1985. Becker went on to win Wimbledon in the same year.
"It's been an unbelievable week and to think of Boris Becker's name and my name is crazy," Berrettini said. "I have been watching the tournament since I was a kid and this is a dream come true to win it."
The key for Norrie was to hold his own serve and then hope to eke out a chance or two on Berrettini's booming serves that can touch 140 mph (225 kph), or strike in the tiebreaker.
It was a huge setback for Norrie when two double-faults gifted Berrettini a break in the opening set, which he went on to take with yet another unreturnable serve.