Lopez rules at Queen's, claims two titles

With a ranking down at 113, only three Tour wins to his name all year and talk of retirement doing the rounds, the 2017 Queen's champion needed a wildcard for the main singles draw.

Spain's Feliciano Lopez poses with the winners trophies from the mens singles final and doubles final of the Fever-Tree Championships at Queens Club on Sunday in London.

Spaniard Feliciano Lopez spent so much time on Queen's Club's centre court over a memorable weekend it would be no surprise if he had pitched a tent and slept there on Saturday night.

By the end of it the 37-year-old wildcard had completed one of the most remarkable weeks of his career by beating Gilles Simon in a gripping singles final, then helping British hero Andy Murray cap his return from injury with the doubles crown.

But while the 32-year-old twice Wimbledon champion's return from career-saving hip surgery five months ago is cause for celebration, the day belonged to elegant left-hander Lopez who bizarrely played in the last five matches of the tournament.

With a ranking down at 113, only three Tour wins to his name all year and talk of retirement doing the rounds, the 2017 Queen's champion needed a wildcard for the main singles draw.

READ: Murray clinches Queen's doubles title with Lopez

His week had begun awkwardly too as he strenuously denied any wrongdoing in a doubles match in 2017 flagged up as potentially connected to match-fixing.

But once the early-week rain stopped the grasscourt thoroughbred rolled back the years.

Despite heavy legs after being on court from mid-afternoon until dusk on Saturday, he hung on to beat fellow veteran Gilles Simon of France 6-2 6-7(4) 7-6(2) in a high-quality final.

It was one of the oldest Queen's finals but the two warriors served up a classic as they pushed each other to the limit.

Lopez wasted a match point in the 12th game of the contest but a sensational lunging backhand volley put him 5-2 ahead in the deciding tiebreak and he made no mistake the second time.

Simon netted a volley at 2-6 and Lopez celebrated his first title since winning here in 2017. He is the first wildcard to win the title since Pete Sampras 20 years ago.

"I thought the best moment of my career was in 2017 but it was not, it's right now," Lopez said before making a moving tribute to his watching wife-to-be Sandra Gago.

"She might have heard of this leftie Spanish player but I've not won many matches since we met.

"Now I can say to her I'm a decent player."