Lopez breaks through for elusive Queen’s crown

Three years on from his heart-breaking defeat in the final, Feliciano Lopez is finally a Queen’s Club champion.

The veteran Spaniard, aged 35 and ranked 32nd, claimed his third ATP grasscourt title with a 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(8) win over Marin Cilic.

Lopez saved a match point to defeat the fourth-seeded Cilic, making up for his loss to Grigor Dimitrov in the Queen’s decider of 2014 – a match in which he held match point but failed to convert.

“Wow, I cannot believe I have finally won this trophy,” he said after clinching the title on his third match point.

“It was tough to put that match (against Dimitrov) away from my mind. I was serving for the match again and it was difficult to handle my nerves. I was waiting so long, so I’m so happy today.”

Lopez next heads to Eastbourne – where he is a two-time champion – before turning his focus to Wimbledon, where he has advanced to the quarterfinals three times.