Francisco Cerundolo secured an unforgettable piece of tennis history by becoming the first Argentinian player to ever capture the prestigious Queen’s Club title in London. His spectacular 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Tommy Paul was memorable on its own, but a last-minute family reunion in the stands put it over the top.
After the title we learned how special the occasion was when Cerundolo thanked his father for “getting on a plane.” Something that the Queen’s Champion does virtually every week on tour is a thing that his father Alejandro had not done in a long, long time.
Thanks to the reporting of La Nacion, we learned just how long.
For decades, Francisco’s father, Alejandro “Toto” Cerúndolo—a veteran tennis coach and former professional player—suffered from a severe, deeply rooted phobia of flying. Alejandro’s paralyzing fear, detailed in Sebastián Torok’s report for the Argentinian outlet, had prevented Toto from traveling abroad to watch his children compete on the international stage.
Cerundolo’s father’s intense anxiety originated in his childhood following the tragic 1972 Andes flight disaster, and it was later compounded by turbulent journeys during his own career. Despite traveling extensively as the former Fed Cup captain and coach to prominent Argentinian figures like Mercedes Paz and José Acasuso, the psychological barrier remained unbreakable. That’s what made Alejandro Cerundolo’s sudden cross-continental trip all the more shocking.
Driven by his son’s incredible run in London, Toto finally resolved to confront the demon. After his wife booked the tickets (without his knowledge, according to Torok), the couple embarked on a multi-leg journey from Buenos Aires, rushing through airports and monitoring live scores from the road.
“My dad used to travel before. When I was born, he stopped traveling, because he hated planes and he couldn’t handle it,” Cerundolo said.
The Queen’s champion added that he didn’t quite believe that his father was actually making the trip.
“Last year he started taking therapy and trying to, I don’t know, approach his fear. During the last week, he was saying, I will go to the grass season. He always loved London and always loved grass, and he never came.
“Me and my brother and my sister were saying, ‘Okay, Dad, until you are in the plane, we don’t trust you, we don’t believe you.’”
Cerundolo’s parents arrived at Queen’s Club just as the decisive third set hung in the balance. Stepping onto the grounds with Francisco leading Tommy Paul 3-2 in the third set, Cerundolo’s father was able to witness the final moments of the historic victory firsthand. When the champion turned to celebrate with his team, he was greeted by the emotional sight of both his parents. It was a fairy tale and on obstacle overcome. One that delivered a historic trophy and the ultimate Father’s Day gift.
