2018 ATP Preview: No. 10, Pablo Carreno Busta

As a preview of 2018, Baseline is taking a look at all the Top 10 finishers from the ATP and WTA.

10

The 2017 season was a breakout year for Pablo Carreno Busta. The Spaniard was ranked No. 30 in January, but rose into the Top 10 with personal-best results at the Australian Open, French Open and US Open, plus a semifinal showing in Indian Wells.

The 26-year-old also won an ATP 250 title in Estoril, and made an ATP 500 final in Rio de Janeiro (falling to Dominic Thiem).

Moment of the Year

Carreno Busta reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals by beating Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets and Milos Raonic 8-6 in the fifth. It wasn't his deepest run of 2017, but it was his most impressive given the degree of draw difficulty.

Hot Shot of the Year

Carreno Busta's hottest moment in Monte-Carlo Masters is a two-parter, with a behind-the-back forehand and a subsequent sliding pass:

Outlook for 2018

With so many big runs at the biggest events--such as the US Open semifinal--maintaining a Top-10 spot in 2018 may be a big ask for Carreno Busta. However, he won't be defending any points at Wimbledon, and he's still young at 26 years old. Perhaps a return visit to London next November for the ATP Finals could be a real possibility.