12 months ago, Pablo Carreno Busta experienced the best moment of his career. His 3-6 6-3 6-3 win over Hubert Hurkacz gave him a first ever Masters 1000 title in Montreal. It was reward for the persistence and consistency the then 31-year-old had shown throughout his career.
Unfortunately things have been far more difficult for Carreno Busta this season. He has been restricted to just four matches due to a persistent elbow injury. The Spaniard has not played in an ATP event since his three-set defeat to French veteran Richard Gasquet in Rotterdam in February. His only win this season was a first round win at the Australian Open. Carreno Busta has been on the entry list for many tournaments since then, but he has had to delay his return on several occasions.
Another Withdrawal for Pablo Carreno Busta
Sadly, the trend of withdrawing has continued for the two-time US Open semifinalist. He has withdrawn from the Masters 1000 event in Toronto (the tournament alternates between Toronto and Montreal each year). In addition, he has also withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters that takes place a week after the National Bank Open. It is not currently clear how long it will be until we see Carreno Busta back on court. He is still on the entry list as things stand for the US Open that starts on August 28th, but this does not guarantee his involvement.
It is a terribly unfortunate for Carreno Busta not to have the chance to defend the sole Masters title to his name. Last year’s Masters events before the US Open both had shock winners. Carreno Busta won in Toronto, while Borna Coric won in Cincinnati. That was also the Croatian’s first Masters 1000 title, beating the two-time Grand Slam runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. It will be intriguing to see if there are any similar shocks this year.
Who Will Take Carreno Busta’s Place in the Draw?
Carreno Busta’s withdrawal means Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp takes his place in the main draw. Aside from his runner-up finish at the Bavarian Championships in April, it has not been a particularly good year for the former US Open quarterfinalist. He will hope to turn his fortunes round after being given this opportunity.
Carreno Busta’s place in the Cinncinati draw will be taken by Lorenzo Sonego. The Italian has had a mixed season with some highs and lows, most recently including a semfinal loss in Umag to the three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. It will be fascinating to analyze if he can transition successfully from clay to the North American hard courts.
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
