A single win in Paris denied Pablo Carreno Busta the chance of playing in the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in his career.
The Spaniard was placed in the eighth and final qualifying place until Sunday, when he was overtaken in the race by Jack Sock. Sock defeated Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic to win his first Masters 1000 title in Paris. Now the Spaniard has been left thinking what could have been after a roller coaster year on the tour.
“When I lost in Paris I did not expect to reach Sunday with the chance of qualifying for London,” Carreno Busta told Agencia EFE.
At the US Open the 26-year-old got his breakthrough by reaching the semifinals for the first time in his career. The run aided Carreno Busta to break into the world’s top-10 at tenth in September. Earlier this year he shined at another American tournament, Indian Wells, reaching the semifinals before losing to Stan Wawrinka. On the European clay he claimed his sole ATP title of the season in Estoril, Portugal.
There has also been setbacks for the Spaniard this season. An abdominal injury forced him to retire in his quarter-final match against Rafael Nadal at the French Open. Subsequently, he missed almost two months of the tour due to the problem.
“If I had not been injured, maybe I would’ve qualified for London, but the injuries are part of this sport,” he explained.
“I have not been the only one to whom the year has been very long, there have been many good (players) who have been injured and have finished the season prematurely, fortunately I have been able to recover, without going to the operating room.”
Instead of focusing on the negatives, Carreno Busta chooses to look on the bright side of things. Recording a win-loss of 36-23, he will finish the year in the world’s top 20 for the first time. Surpassing his 2016 best of 30th.
“The one (injury) with the abdominal was the most annoying because I had to be two months away, but you have to look at the whole (year), it was a very good season, the best of my career, and I have to be very happy.”
London appearance
Carreno Busta could still play in the ATP Finals. As the first alternate, he will be a replacement if any of the qualified players withdraw. There have been concerns mounting about world No.1 Nadal. He was forced to withdraw from last week’s Paris Masters due to a knee injury and faces a race against time to be fit by next week.
“I know he has been hit on his knee in Paris and before in Shanghai,” Carreno Busta said about Nadal. “It’s a little chronic injury, he’s a great teammate and friend, who has also had a great season, and I would like him to finish it playing the tournament.”
Even if he doesn’t play, Carreno Busta will head to London with pride. For him the season has seen him meet and exceed all of his expectations.
“The objective was never to get to London, I would have liked to go, and to go as a substitute is a dream.” He concluded.
The ATP Finals will start on Sunday, November 12th.
