In the heat of the day two ATP hopefuls ranked just outside the top-20 took center stage. Pablo Carreno Busta [21] and Pablo Cuevas [27] would put each other to the test going the distance, 2 hours and 5 minutes. And when the dust settled, Carreno Busta advanced with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 win at the BNP Paribas Open.

1st Set – Carreno Busta Dominates 6-1

As the score indicates, Carreno Busta owned this set in 23 minutes. He began strong breaking Cuevas’ first two service games and held his serve thru the set. He closed breaking Cuevas again, 6-1. It is notable that Cuevas fought off Carreno Busta in the longest game of the match, 14 points. This perhaps a sign that raw passion was awakening in Cuevas. Rather than point by point commentary, let’s review the impressive stats of Carreno Busta. He produced 4-aces, zero-double-faults, an 81% 1st serve percentage and he did not face a single break point.  

2nd Set - Cuevas Takes Control 6-3

Cuevas opened his first service game with three aces and followed that with a break of Carreno Busta’s serve. The intensity built as the two traded breaks to 3-2 Cuevas. Next, Cuevas produced a love hold, the momentum had officially shifted, 4-2 Cuevas. While Cuevas would struggle in game eight serving two double-faults, he eventually held. This was the longest game of the set. Carreno-Busta fought to stay in the final game but Cuevas was fired up and ready to push for a break. He turned the tables in 33 minutes, 6-3.

3rd Set – 7-6(4) Unyielding Will – 1 Hour and 7 Minutes

The final set played like a new match. Pablo and Pablo have intimate knowledge of each other’s games as they had squared off in Sao Paulo where Cuevas took the title. In Rio, they partnered capturing the doubles title. They say knowledge is power; the instinctual insight of the opponent was evident. Both players went for more in every stroke with games to 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, tie-break and 7-aces and 8-double-faults as evidence. At 5-4, 30-40 and Carreno Busta on serve, Cuevas channeling Gael Monfils, dove to defend his turf.

While he came up short on the point, the crowd rewarded the passion of such a risky effort. The Uruguayan required a medical time-out. What followed were big screen images of a bloody mess, knuckles, and knees. When play resumed, Cuevas seemed no worse for the wear. This set encompassed 87 points versus, 45 and 51 in the 1st and 2nd sets respectively. In effort, no one lost this match, but the scoreboard bowed in favor of the Spaniard Carreno Busta, 7-6(4).

Post-match

In press Busta spoke about knowing that he needed to dominate out of the gates as his opponent has a deadly forehand.

Carreno Busta reflected on his good fortune of having Rafa Nadal as and friend and mentor along with other influential Spanish legends. He had this to say about Rafa, “he helped me a lot always, no? I practiced with him a lot of times and I think it's really good for me to be near him, because he's one of the best players of the history, and I am lucky to can be near him.” He also credited his Davis Cup experiences as highly motivating and helping to build his mental toughness.

Concerning his results at the BNP Paribas Open he stated, “Well, it's an amazing feeling. It's my first time in the semifinal in a Masters 1000, but here in Indian Wells is – you know, for me, this tournament is one of the best, not just the Masters 1000, one of the best tournaments in the year and maybe one of the tougher, because all the people is playing here, all the top 20.  So, I think it's a really great result for me.”

As of Monday, Pablo will have reached his stated 2017 goal of being Top-20 and it is only March.

When asked, what is making the difference this year he shared, “Maybe the most important thing was the mentally with my new team. We work so hard about to be focused all the time, to be very aggressive, to try to dominate all the points…Yeah, probably it was the key, no? When I start with them, Samuel and Cesar teach me how to be tough mentally like this, and maybe Juan Carlos Ferrero helped me a lot also.  I think they are working very good with me, very hard. And when you play matches and you have more experience finally, no, you are best player, no?”

Given the amount of tennis Carreno Busta has already played in the desert, he may need to trim his schedule soon. He will play in Miami next week and will also represent Spain in the next round of Davis Cup in Serbia. For now, Carreno Busta is focused like a laser on his semi-final opponent, Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. Current head-to-head favors Wawrinka, 2-0.

The two enjoy a “day of rest” and play Saturday for a place in the final. Matches begin at 11:00PST. At present, the order of play has not been announced. For updates, check the tournament site at http://www. bnpparibasopen.com/en/schedules/order-of-play.