Another Grand Slam, Another Career-Best Showing For Carreno Busta
Every Grand Slam tournament Pablo Carreno Busta plays these days, the Spaniard just keeps improving his “best showing yet”.
On Friday at the Australian Open, the World No. 11 prevailed past 23rd seed Gilles Muller 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time.
Carreno Busta had also reached the third round Down Under last year. He achieved career-best showings at 2017 Roland Garros (QF) and 2017 US Open (SF). Carreno Busta did not play at 2017 Wimbledon (ab injury).
But on Sunday in Melbourne, the right-hander will play for a chance to make the Australian Open quarter-finals because of some well-timed breaks late in the match.
In the third set, Carreno Busta and Muller were on serve until the 12th game, when Carreno Busta broke for the crucial two-sets-to-one lead. And in the fourth set, Carreno Busta again broke in the 12th game to seal the third-round contest.
It wasn't as if Muller had a down serving day, either. The Luxembourg native, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, delivered 40 aces and won 84 per cent of his first-serve points (74/88). But Carreno Busta found opportunities with Muller's second serve, winning nearly 60 per cent of those points.
Carreno Busta will next meet sixth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia.
Cilic progressed to the fourth round for the fifth time after a 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over American Ryan Harrison, the recent Brisbane International presented by Suncorp finalist.
“Ryan played really good today,” said Cilic. “I was expecting also that he’s going to come out playing well. He’s had a good start to the season, playing finals in Brisbane and a good two wins over here, and definitely it was tough. It was tough to get used to the conditions, a little bit cooler now in the evening, but I'm really pleased with the win.”
Looking ahead to facing Carreno Busta, Cilic said, “We’ve played only once a year and a half ago indoors, and Pablo is a really solid player. He’s very consistent throughout the year and obviously played really well also over here, beat Muller today.”
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On Friday at the Australian Open, the World No. 11 prevailed past 23rd seed Gilles Muller 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time.
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| Pablo Carreno Busta survives a 40-ace effort by Gilles Muller to advance. |
But on Sunday in Melbourne, the right-hander will play for a chance to make the Australian Open quarter-finals because of some well-timed breaks late in the match.
In the third set, Carreno Busta and Muller were on serve until the 12th game, when Carreno Busta broke for the crucial two-sets-to-one lead. And in the fourth set, Carreno Busta again broke in the 12th game to seal the third-round contest.
It wasn't as if Muller had a down serving day, either. The Luxembourg native, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, delivered 40 aces and won 84 per cent of his first-serve points (74/88). But Carreno Busta found opportunities with Muller's second serve, winning nearly 60 per cent of those points.
Carreno Busta will next meet sixth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia.
Cilic progressed to the fourth round for the fifth time after a 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over American Ryan Harrison, the recent Brisbane International presented by Suncorp finalist.
“Ryan played really good today,” said Cilic. “I was expecting also that he’s going to come out playing well. He’s had a good start to the season, playing finals in Brisbane and a good two wins over here, and definitely it was tough. It was tough to get used to the conditions, a little bit cooler now in the evening, but I'm really pleased with the win.”
Looking ahead to facing Carreno Busta, Cilic said, “We’ve played only once a year and a half ago indoors, and Pablo is a really solid player. He’s very consistent throughout the year and obviously played really well also over here, beat Muller today.”
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