Pablo Carreno Busta reacts to making first ATP final since 2017

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Former world No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta didn't hide his happiness and excitement after reaching his first ATP final since 2017. Carreno Busta, now ranked at No. 63 in the world, handed a straight-set defeat to rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-4 to progress into the Chengdu Open final.

The Spaniard saved two break points in the opening game of the match, before he claimed the lone break of the first set in the sixth game. The 28-year-old earned his second break of the match in the seventh game of the second set and then held on to his serve to seal the win.

"I lost [semi-finals] in Antalya and Hamburg this year. Finally, I can win a semi-final to be in a final,” Carreno Busta said, per the ATP website. “I am excited to play my first final of the year tomorrow." Carreno Busta will be fighting against rising star Alexander Bublik for the Chengdu title.

The head-to-head between the two stands on Carreno Busta's side as he won the lone meeting between the two at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow three years ago. "Alex is a tough player," Carreno Busta said of Bublik. "He serves really good with his first and second serves… I need to be very focussed, try to win my service games and then wait for the moment and take advantage of my opportunities."