By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, May 6, 2017

 

Pablo Carreno Busta did not drop serve sweeping David Ferrer, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the Millennium Estoril Open final for the second straight year.

Photo credit: Millennium Estoril Open

Spanish veterans can’t stay in step with Pablo Carreno Busta this week.

In an all-Spanish semifinal, the top-seeded Carreno Busta did not drop serving cruising past David Ferrer, 6-3, 6-3, into his second final of the season at the Millennium Estoril Open.

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It is Carreno Busta’s second straight Estoril final. He lost to compatriot Nicolas Almagro in the 2016 final, but avenged that defeat taking down Almagro, 6-2, 6-4, after his straight-sets win over Tommy Robredo in his opener.

The 25-year-old Barcelona baseliner advanced to his first final since Rio de Janeiro in February when Carreno Busta fell to Dominic Thiem.

Carreno Busta's skill changing direction down the line helped him prevail in some grinding rallies.



Contesting his fifth semifinal of the season, Carreno Busta broke for a 4-2 first-set lead.

The younger Spaniard tormented the veteran’s second serve, winning eight of 11 points played on Ferrer’s second serve in building a one-set lead.



Carreno Busta broke in the fifth game of the second set and never looked back, closing in 81 minutes to raise his 2017 record to 21-11, including a 16-6 clay-court record.

Playing for his third career title, Carreno Busta will face  third-seeded Gilles Muller in tomorrow's final. Muller moved past Kevin Anderson, 7-5, 6-4, to book his first career clay-court final.