The second seed survived a tie-breaker in the first set before running away with the match in the second to set up a final date with Filip Krajinovic.
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Second seed Pablo Carreno Busta continued his impressive form, beating Federico Delbonis in straight sets to reach the final at the Hamburg European Open. As a result of the 7-6, 6-3 victory on Saturday, the Spaniard maintained his quest for a second ATP Tour title of the season. Carreno Busta saved all four break points he faced in the match and won 75 per cent (15/20) of his second-service points. The 30-year-old player, who is yet to drop a set in Hamburg this week, advanced to the final in one hour and 55 minutes. He will play Filip Krajinovic of Serbia for the trophy on Sunday.
“It was a tough match today, but I am very happy because Federico is a really tough player,” Pablo Carreno Busta said. “Always when I play against him, I am very uncomfortable. I am happy because my level today was very good. I probably played better in the second set, but I continued fighting all the time. I enjoy playing here, I feel comfortable here. It is my most important match this year [tomorrow]. I need to be really focused until the end again.”
In April, the Spaniard won the Marbella Open title on home soil. He will now have the chance to claim a sixth tour-level title and first ATP Tour 500 trophy on Sunday against Krajinovic. Earlier on Saturday, the match started on equal footing as both struggled to break the other. Both players were strong on serve in the first set, with neither offering up a single break point as they moved to a tie-break. Carreno Busta came out on top to seal the opening set.
Delbonis fought back strongly, making life immediately difficult for the Spaniard in the next set. After a crucial service hold at the start of the second set, Pablo Carreno Busta then found the break in the fifth game. He broke again and won the match when Delbonis struck the net with his backhand. He will take on Filip Krajinovic in the Hamburg championship clash. The Serbian reached the final by overcoming his countryman Lalso Djere 6-4, 6-2.
The sixth seed, who defeated World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals, dominated the match, breaking Djere three times to advance in one hour and 17 minutes. Krajinovic will be seeking his first ATP Tour title on Sunday.
Casper Ruud justified his top seed tag at the Nordea Open on Saturday after easing past Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1, 6-4 to enter his second ATP Tour final of the season. The Norwegian had lifted the Gonet Geneva Open title in May. He won 76 per cent (19/25) of his first-service points and broke five times to advance in 79 minutes. Ruud will face Federico Coria in the final.
“I played a very good first set, I am very happy,” Ruud said. “[The second set] was a bit back and forth, I started to get a bit nervous towards the end. I started to play the points to quickly and didn’t play my game. That is natural when you are feeling the nerves. I am looking forward to the final. It is my fifth final of my career, and I am looking to make it three titles and my second one this year. I hope we can have some Scandinavian cheering.”
