Pablo Carreno Busta Reaches First Major Semifinal at US Open
(September 5, 2017) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY- Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta is into the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time. The No. 12 seed defeated the No. 29 seed Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the first men’s quarterfinal of the US Open on Tuesday.
The Spaniard was totally in control throughout the match one-hour and 59-minute match, breaking serve six times.
Carreno Busta has reached the final four without dropping a set.
“I think it was a very good, very special match for me, playing Arthur Ashe against Diego. We are very good friends,” said the winner.
“I happy for him, also, because he made a really good tournament. Beat good opponents: Cilic, Pouille. He has to be happy about this tournament here in US Open.
“Well, of course, for me I’m very excited to be in the semifinals. I think that it was a very good opportunity to do it, to be in semifinals, and I just try to make my best. Well, I think that the match today was very good. I play very solid from the baseline, trying to don’t do mistakes. In the important moments, maybe my serve was the difference.”
He came into the match having faced four qualifiers, including his last match in the fourth round against Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov. He is the first player in the Open Era to do this at a major tournament.
“Of course I know that I have a good draw here,” said the Spaniard.” I play against quallie in first round, in second round, third round, and fourth round. That’s true that Denis was really tough. It’s not normal qualifier.
“But when you have this draw, you have to do your best to take advantage, so I think that is a really good tournament for me. I know that I didn’t win matches against top players, Top 10 or Top 20 players, but I am very happy with my tournament.”
Schwartzman, despite the loss, enjoyed his run in New York: “I think it’s unbelievable there outside, playing in Arthur Ashe quarterfinals against a friend like Pablo. I think the first two sets was close for both players, and we did very good points. And nothing. Always I think the people enjoy that.
“I am really happy to play there in the Arthur Ashe and in the Grandstand and many courts here in the tournament, the crowd. This year was amazing. Many Argentinians, many people from here, and was really good.”
The Argentine said that he came into the year focusing on his mental side and it’s been showing with good results and a top 30 ranking.
“I think I am improving a lot, and always the confidence, it’s coming when you do this kind of tournaments.
“I am doing really well this year. A few tournaments I was in the weekend, and always the confidence coming after that weeks.
“I am really happy with that, and I am trying to keep like this.”
Carreno Busta made the quarterfinals of Roland Garros in June, but withdrew from the tournament before his match with his countryman, Rafael Nadal with an abdominal injury.
He will play the winner of the match between No. 17 Sam Querrey of the US or No. 28 Kevin Anderson from South Africa in the semifinals.
Carreno Busta talked about making the adjustment from playing a 5’7″ player to a 6’6″ or 6’8″ player in the case of Sam Querrey and Kevin Anderson respectively.
“I play against Kevin in Montreal, the first tournament of the tour here in USA,” he said. ” I lost. So maybe will be difficult to play against him again, but I think that now in this moment I am playing with more confidence. I am playing better than in Montreal.”
As for Querrey: “I never play against him, but I watch all the matches. This year he’s playing really good. He won in Acapulco. He did semifinals in Wimbledon. It will be a really tough match against him.
“It’s always difficult to play against him, because he has a really good serve and really good forehand. I will try to play to his backhand,” Carreno Busta sad with a smile.
More to follow…
