Pablo Carreño Busta Close to a Top-Level Comeback at Roland Garros. Pablo Carreño Busta has advanced through two rounds at Roland Garros and is one step away from reaching the second week of the tournament. After a long recovery, he is once again competing for a spot among the elite. The upcoming match could prove decisive.
Pablo Carreño Busta, who was close to the top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings back in 2022, has once again found himself in the spotlight at Roland Garros. The Spaniard, who endured a serious injury and spent almost a year and a half away from top-tier tennis, is now just one step away from reaching the round of 16 for the first time since 2021. At the start of the tournament, he confidently defeated 12th seed Jirí Lehečka, and in the second round, advanced after receiving a walkover following the withdrawal of Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Recovery from surgery on his right elbow was tough for Carreño Busta: over a year and eight months, he played only about ten matches at ATP Tour level and dropped out of the top 1000 in the rankings for the first time since 2009. However, now at 34, he is once again showing consistent play and notes that his level and confidence are gradually coming back. According to him, it was at this tournament that he managed to make the very step he had been missing to beat the strongest opponents.
Carreño Busta's next opponent is Argentine Tristan Tirante, who has already eliminated two Spaniards: Pablo Llamas Ruiz and 21st seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Spaniard notes that Tirante has made significant progress over the past year and now poses a serious threat. Their previous meeting took place on clay in Rome, where Carreño Busta won after his opponent retired, but he believes the Argentine's current level is much higher.
Carreño Busta emphasizes that to succeed against Tirante, it's important not to let him feel comfortable on the court and not allow him to unleash his powerful forehand. The Spaniard is confident that his current form will allow him to compete for a place in the next round, although he doesn't expect an easy match.
This year, attention to the Roland Garros is especially high against the backdrop of other major sporting events. For example, a key football match recently took place in London, where Arsenal fought for the title against Burnley—the details of this confrontation can be found in the article about the tense match at the Emirates Stadium.
Roland Garros is traditionally considered one of the toughest tournaments of the season due to the specifics of the clay court and fierce competition. For Carreño Busta, reaching the round of 16 could be an important step in returning to his previous level. Spanish tennis players have repeatedly achieved success in the tournament's history, and the event has often served as a stage for remarkable comebacks after injuries. In 2026, interest in the performances of Spanish players at Roland Garros remains consistently high, and the success of veterans like Carreño Busta highlights the depth and traditions of national tennis.
