OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 13, 2022

Pablo Carreno Busta

Press Conference

P. CARRENO BUSTA/D. Evans

7-5, 6-7, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Pablo, into your first ATP Masters 1000 final. Great battle tonight. Talk about your overall thoughts.

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Well, it was a very important match to me to be in my first ATP 1000 final.

I was a little bit nervous at the beginning, but I think that I play probably good, very solid from the baseline, trying to be aggressive enough.

After that, when I have the chance to serve for the set, the first set, probably didn't play my finest tennis. But I continue fighting all the time.

Was very difficult moment when I lost the match point in the second set. I tried to continue positive. I know that I will have another chances. Finally I made it, no?

It was very important to continue fighting all the time. I know that Evans is a great opponent. It's really tough to play against him. He has a very, very good backhand slice. Is not comfortable playing against him.

Happy because it is very important to me and to my confidence to be in the final.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Would you say tonight the most important thing was to be strong mentally?

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Yeah, probably, yeah. I was playing really good level during all the week. Yesterday maybe I suffer a little bit in the first set. But today I have to suffer a lot, no? It was very important to be all the time fighting, all the time being positive. Mentally was probably the key of the match.

Q. What were you thinking at the beginning of the third set after you missed the match point in the second set?

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Yeah, probably was the tough moment of the match because after lose the match ball, was true that at the beginning of the third set I feel little bit tired. Probably to be good mentally, have positive mentally, was very important to continue there.

After that I have the opportunity to get the break. I made it. Then I play more and more aggressive. It was very important to continue the way that I had during all the week.

Q. If I'm not mistaken, you were broken once yesterday and twice today in the entire tournament. Your serve has been giving you a big hand this week. Do you think you've made a step on that shot that will actually be able to carry you through to better goals?

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Yeah, for sure the serve in this kind of surface is very important. Probably I making more free points with the serve than normally.

But also I think it's very important the next hit after the serve. I need to be very aggressive, try to dominate the points when I serving. That's the key to just receive three breaks in all the tournament.

Q. Tomorrow will be your first ATP 1000 final. Long time coming for you. What does it mean for you to be in the final of a tournament like this?

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: It's very important. It's probably one of the most important matches of my career, fighting for a title, fighting for a Masters 1000 title.

I made two semifinals before, four and five years ago. It's very important to my confidence, to myself, to be again in a final.

Probably this year I didn't make my best tennis, so it's very important to be in the final. I will try to do my best tomorrow to win it.

Q. What are your thoughts about facing Hurkacz tomorrow?

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Well, I play sometimes against him. Always tough matches. I remember last year I play in the final in Metz. I lost in two sets, but 7-6 in the first one. The other match I play with him, I thought that I wouldn't 7-6, 7-6, so...

It's very tough to return his serve because he's serving unbelievable - during all the week also this week. I don't know. I need to be very carefully with myself again, try to make pressure on his serves, and wait for play one of my best matches on the tour.