Busting Into the ATP Top 100 is Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain

PETE ZIEBRON

At world #91, Pablo Carreno Busta is one of 14 Spaniards in the ATP Top 100 this week.

Fresh off his 9th title of the year last week as Champion of the Challenger tournament last week in Segovia, Spain, 22 year-old Pablo Carreno Busta vaulted into the ATP Top 100 this week at world #91.  Carreno Busta started 2013 with a ranking of #654 and has steadily ascended as a result of his stellar play throughout the first seven months of the year.

In fact, Carreno Busta sports an impressive 112-19 record in 2013, complete with 7 Futures titles, 2 Challenger crowns and a 1st round match with Roger Federer at Roland Garros.  From January to early April, Carreno Busta recorded 39 straight wins.  Included in that run were 7 consecutive Futures titles, and a most impressive 70-7 record in sets won in the those tournaments.  Five of the tournaments were contested on clay, one on hard court and one on carpet.

Throughout his ultra-succesful 2013 campaign, Pablo Carreno Busta has notched several impressive wins against top ATP players, including:

• #57 Pablo Andujar in Morocco (250) 6-4 2-6 6-3
• #71 Robin Haase in Barcelona (500) 6-1 2-6 7-6(5)
• #33 Julien Benneteau in Oerias (250) 6-3 6-4
• #61 David Goffin in Oerias (250) 1-6 6-2 6-2
• #25 Fabio Fognini in Oerias (250) 3-6 6-4 6-4
• #35 Martin Klizan in Caltanissetta (Challenger) 7-6(1) 2-6 6-3

Every player listed above that Carreno Busta beat earlier this year, with the exception of Robin Haase, is in the main draw of the Masters 1000 tournament this week in Montreal.

Even though 17-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer defeated Carreno Busta convincingly 6-2 6-2 6-3 in the 1st round at Roland Garros, Federer was wary of the matchup, stating "He's played a lot of matches and won a lot this year.  That really helps your confidence and he's played a lot of matches on clay, I knew it could be tricky if I don't sustain a certain level of play and certain aggressiveness."    

•  With a ranking of world #91, Pablo Carreno Busta will be guaranteed direct entry into the 2014 Australian Open.  His ranking was outside of the top 102 on July 17, which denied him direct entry into this year's US Open.  Carreno Busta's current upward trajectory in the ATP rankings should continue on its torrid pace for the remainder of the year as he has a miniscule 12 points to defend in the next five months.