World no. 23 Pablo Carreno Busta conquered the first Masters 1000 crown in Montreal. The Spaniard toppled Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 45 minutes. He secured a career-best title and became the third-oldest first-time Masters 1000 champion after John Isner and Fabio Fognini, celebrating at 31 years and one month.
Pablo prevailed over Hubert in Cincinnati last year. He added another crucial victory over the Pole in Montreal to become Spain’s 15th Masters 1000 champion. Pablo won eight points more than Hubert and overpowered the opponent’s 18 aces.
Carreno Busta defended his second serve superbly and faced only one break point in the entire encounter. Hurkacz seized in the opening set, but it was not enough to keep him safe. The Pole struggled on the second serve, taking only seven of 23 points and getting broken three times from as many chances offered to the Spaniard.
Pablo Carreno Busta claimed the first Masters 1000 title at 31.
Hubert fired 29 winners and unforced errors, while Pablo landed 22 winners as 12 unforced errors. The Pole created the gap with over 30 service winners. The Spaniard erased it with a reliable performance from the baseline.
Carreno Busta matched Hurkacz’s numbers in the shortest rallies up to four strokes and bested him in the mid-range and most advanced exchanges to emerge at the top. There were no chances for the returners in the encounter’s opening five games, and Hubert forged a 3-2 advantage with a service winner after 16 minutes.
Suddenly, Hurkacz broke at love in game six following the rival’s backhand error for a 4-2 lead and a boost. The Pole cemented the break with a service winner in game seven and wrapped up the opener with an ace at 5-3 in 31 minutes.
The Spaniard raised his level in the second set and dropped five points behind the initial shot to keep the pressure on the other side. Pablo broke at love in game two for a boost and held in the next one with a service winner for 3-0.
Carreno Busta held at 15 in game five and moved 5-2 up with a forehand down the line winner two games later. Hubert prolonged the set with a hold at 30 in game eight before Pablo secured the set with a service winner in the next one to force a decider after 66 minutes.
Carreno Busta stepped in in the second set and hit 45% of the balls from inside the baseline, which was not the case in the opener. With momentum on his side, the Spaniard broke at 30 in the decider’s third game to move closer to the finish line.
Pablo served well and landed an ace in game six for 4-2. Carreno Busta secured the eighth game with a hold at love after a service winner, and Hurkacz served to stay in the match at 3-5. The Spaniard landed a deep return in game nine for a match point and seized it to start a massive celebration and lift the trophy.
