GUIA DE ISORA/STARNBERG, February 15, 2025
The two-week Tenerife Challenger series is heading into its final weekend, with thrilling matches and intense competition setting the stage for an exciting conclusion.
Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain continued his impressive comeback run by securing a spot in Sunday’s championship match, marking his second consecutive final on the biggest of the Canary Islands. The former World No. 10, who won the Tenerife Challenger 1 title last week, maintained his strong form with a determined performance in the stage of the last four on Saturday.
On a windy but sunny afternoon with temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius at the Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora, Carreno Busta eased past Benjamin Hassan of Lebanon 6-3, 6-2. The No. 3 seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court tournament sent down four aces and won 74 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 15 minutes.
PCB on FIRE
9⃣th win in a row for @pablocarreno91 as he moves past Hassan 6-3, 6-2 and gets just one step away from going back-to-back in Tenerife! #ATPChallenger | @meftennisevents pic.twitter.com/R1cWCmqAAw
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 15, 2025
“I can’t remember the last time I won nine matches in a row,” said World No. 133 Carreno Busta. “It must have been a very long time ago. Things are going really well for me. Today was tough with so much wind, but I stayed in the match, served well, and kept my focus. I feel very comfortable in Tenerife. From day one, I have received so many messages of support, and that means a lot to me.”
The second deep run within a fortnight further cements Carreno Busta’s return to the ATP Tour after dealing with an elbow injury in recent seasons. With a second consecutive title on the line, the 33-year-old Gijon native now sets his sights on the final, where he will aim to continue his resurgence and climb back up the rankings.
Misolic: From qualifying to the title match
Carreno Busta will take on Filip Misolic. The 23-year-old Austrian qualifier defeated Spanish alternate Daniel Rincon 6-3, 6-2. Misolic capitalized on four of his eight break-point chances to advance in one hour and 18 minutes.
“It was a tough match with the wind, but I managed it very well. I keep improving throughout the week. That’s the most important thing,” said Misolic, who has reached his first ATP Challenger Tour final since finishing runner-up on home soil in Mauthausen in May 2023.
“It feels good to be back in a final. It will be tough as it will be my seventh match of the week, but I am looking forward to it.”
The World No. 313 is seeking his third Challenger career title after 2022 Zagreb (Croatia) and Roseto (Italy) last season. Carreno Busta could lift his 13th Challenger career trophy. The pair will meet for the first time.
Merino & Negritu claim first title of the season
Earlier in the day, Alexander Merino of Peru und Germany’s Christoph Negritu captured the doubles title. The duo battled past No. 4 seeds Daniel Cukierman from Israel and Briton Joshua Paris 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 in one hour and 28 minutes.
Merino and Negritu earned their fourth team title on the ATP Challenger Tour following their triumphs in Dobrich (Bulgaria), Sibiu (Romania) and Valencia (Spain) last year. They split € 4,540 in prize money and collected 75 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
