Berrettini ended Cameron Norrie's bid to become only the second Briton after Andy Murray to win at Queen's since the Second World War - but it was harder than many expected for the top seed who eventually prevailed 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 on Sunday.

Berrettini, the first Italian to claim the Queen's title, said: "It's been an unbelievable week and to think of Boris Becker's name and my name together is crazy.

"I have been watching the tournament since I was a kid and this is a dream come true to win it."

Following his third defeat in a final this year, Norrie said: "All credit to Matteo. A great week for you and just too good today."

Berrettini was the destroyer of British hopes in west London, having already accounted for Murray and Dan Evans with his booming serves which regularly touched 140mph.

He'd also knocked out Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur, who'd battled hard in Saturday's semi-final but went down in straight sets.

The key for Norrie was to do the business with his own serve and then hope to eke out a chance or two on Berrettini's, or strike in the tiebreak.

So it was a huge setback when two double faults gifted Berrettini a break early 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 the Berrettini serve, but it was quickly snuffed out.

However, in the tiebreak 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 limply 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 - as he landed his fifth ATP title and the biggest of his career.

Nevertheless, Norrie can console himself with a APS72,000 pay day and a rise in the rankings from 41 to 34, which should be enough to see him among the seeds at Wimbledon.

De Minaur and Norrie, who'd also formed an Anglo-Australian team in the doubles, were knocked out in the semi-finals by another Aussie John Peers and American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

Perth's Peers and Opelka were set to play newly-crowned French Open champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the final later on Sunday.

Australian Associated Press