Cerundolo through to Queen's final with Paul after narrow victory over Nakashima

[p]Cerundolo will face American eighth seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paul-tommy/pd3ye1BS/"]Tommy Paul[/a] in Sunday's decider after he beat Frenchman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humbert-ugo/O4ywE5Ah/"]Ugo Humbert[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/humbert-u-O4ywE5Ah/paul-t-pd3ye1BS/?mid=rmFtHCke"]6-3, 6-3[/a].[/p][p][b]"I'm super happy because it's my first final in an ATP 500,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-francisco/lWQ3G6gB/"]Cerundolo[/a] said on court at the end of the match.[/p][p]The pair went toe to toe on the grass of the Wimbledon warm-up in the first set before the 24-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nakashima-brandon/ETGnbrpH/"]Nakashima[/a] got the edge in the tiebreak, taking it 7-5.[/p][p]The 27-year-old Argentine hit back in the second, breaking to go up 4-3 and picking up the next two games to square the match.[/p][p]The decider went with break until Cerundolo produced a perfect cross-court forehand that left Nakashima swishing at air.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="c942a4fe-89ba-43a1-86a7-c25eaed18757" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a70c245f-a5e8-4921-a401-8752e6b93b5f" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]The break put him 3-2 up but he couldn't retain the advantage with the American, now coached by former world no.6 Wayne Ferreira who won at Queen's in 1992, breaking straight back.[/p][p]Cerundolo, who won a grass title at Eastbourne in 2023, broke again to go 5-4 up and duly [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cerundolo-f-lWQ3G6gB/nakashima-b-ETGnbrpH/?mid=WIvMEnko"]served out for the match[/a].[/p][p][b]"It was a really challenging match, really tough,"[/b] said Cerundolo. [b]"I think Brandon is playing incredible too. He was playing amazing during the whole weekend today also.[/b][/p][p][b]"I'm super happy because I just stayed there competing."[/b][/p][p]Paul, a Queen's champion in 2024, continued his impressive form this week against Humbert, having not dropped a set in west London.[/p][p]The 29-year-old will seek to claim his second trophy of the season, after lifting the clay-court title in Houston, when he meets Cerundolo in Sunday's final.[/p][p]Cerundolo boasts a 5-2 lead over Paul in their previous career meetings, including a three-sets victory over the American in the round of 32 at Queen's three years ago.[/p]