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 225 km/h, 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.
Norrie saved two break points before moving 5-4 ahead in the second and had a glimpse of an opening at 6-5, 15-30 on Berrettini's serve, but it was quickly snuffed out.
However, in the tiebreaker the plan worked to perfection, Norrie nicking the mini-break, racking up three set points and taking the third on serve when Berrettini floated a backhand long.
Two more break points were fended off by Norrie at 2-3 in the decider but in his next service game he blew a 40-0 lead, netting to hand Berrettini the chance to serve for the championship.
Berrettini had won his previous 45 service games this week, and he made it 46 to love to land his fifth ATP title and the biggest of his career. He becomes the first Italian to claim the Queen's title.
Norrie became the first British player to reach the final since Andy Murray in 2016.
Norrie represents Britain after being born in South Africa, growing up in New Zealand, and playing collegiately in the United States.
Britain's Gordon Reid won the wheelchair singles final with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez.
HUMBERT WINS HALLE TITLE OVER RUBLEV
Ugo Humbert defeated Andrey Rublev 6-3 7-6 (4) in the Halle Open final for the biggest title win of his career on Sunday.
The French player, who won ATP 250 events in Antwerp and Auckland last year, hit nine aces and saved both break points he faced to beat the fourth-seeded Rublev in 1 hour, 24 minutes for his first ATP 500 title.
"It is incredible. It is the best victory of my career," Humbert said. "I am very proud because it wasn't easy. I was a little bit tired, but I tried to stay focused on each point, and did what I could, so it is very nice."
Humbert made the breakthrough in the eighth game of the opening set, where he fended off the two break points to close it out. He then held his nerve in the tie-break.
"I tried to stay aggressive and take the ball early because in the baseline rallies it was tough, because Andrey was hitting the ball very hard. Physically, it was tough, and I tried to take my chances when I could, and I won," Humbert said.
Rublev was playing in his first grass-court final and his third final of the year. He won in Rotterdam in March and lost the Monte Carlo Masters to Stefanos Tsitsipas a month later.
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from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/matteo-berrettini-wins-queens-club-ugo-humbert-halle/f26dcc4a-f517-4573-b5f6-5275f3c19bab
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