World number 23 Pablo Carreno Busta has defended the ‘necessary’ Davis Cup changes as he looks for better luck in 2019.
The Spaniard, who played twice for Spain in the 2018 Davis Cup, has said that the changes for the 2019 edition was necessary although he admits having two cup competitions is difficult, “It is difficult for us to have two competitions (ATP Cup and the Davis Cup) because everything is going to come together,” Carreno Busta explained in an interview with AS.com.
“But the Davis Cup format change, being drastic, was necessary.” Next year’s format will see a one week, 18-team World Group take place in Madrid next November. Spain have already qualified for the 2019 Finals as they join France, Croatia, USA, Argentina and Great Britain in the World Group. The other 12 nations will be decided by February’s qualifiers.
As for Carreno Busta he is hoping to have a better 2019 season having been injured for the latter stages of the 2018 season, “The campaign ended badly, physically and mentally, for not being able to play in the last events,” The Spaniard admitted.
“But on holidays I took the energy. I prepare 100% for next year. I hope the injuries let me play all season. It has not been bad, because I did good results in important events and my level of play was sometimes very good. I’m No. 23, which is not bad but it was not the challenge we were looking for. Being in the top 10 at the end is a really tough requirement, because you have to be 100% always. Some may miss tournaments or have some vacations, but I need rhythm and continuity.”
In 2018 the 27 year old’s best results included semi-final performances in Miami and Winston-Salem although injury at the US Open ended the season in pain for Carreno Busta.
The Spaniard will be hoping for better luck next season as he aims to finish the season inside the top 10 once again. He will start his season in the second week of the season when he plays at the ASB Classic in Auckland, which starts on the 7th of January.
