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After losing the opening set, Burruchaga roared back to take the match to a decider, but Paul regained his composure to seal a 6-1 3-6 7-5 victory in two hours and 40 minutes.

Paul raced out of the blocks in the showpiece match, reeling off the first five games before claiming the early lead at the second time of asking.

However, Burruchaga responded brilliantly to going behind and got the better of his opponent's serve in the second game, although Paul was able to hit back with a break of his own.

Burruchaga then edged a mammoth sixth game, saving three game points before getting over the line to ensure that the encounter would go to a deciding set.

It appeared the Argentinean was cruising to a first career title after finding a crucial early break, but he was unable to convert his three championship point opportunities in the ninth game.

From there, Paul showcased his powers of recovery and saved four break points of his own before sealing the title with his first match point, maintaining the dominance of American players at the tournament. 

Not since Cristian Garin in 2019 has a foreign player won the Clay Court Championships, with Paul becoming the fifth consecutive American player to win the tournament, after Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton and Jenson Brooksby.