LONDON — Ignacio Buse’s meteoric rise continues. The Peruvian won his first match at a Grand Slam and all he wants is to keep winning.
“I want to keep going. I’ll be honest, I want to keep going,” the Peruvian said at Wimbledon after beating North American Emilio Nava 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-5 and 6-0.
“I am very happy. I know it is a historic win for Peru. I hope people are very happy too, but yes, above all because I think I am climbing steps,” he said in conversation with a small group of media, including CLAY.
Buse has the qualities that spark passion in people: he is young, charismatic and a champion. As a result, he has a country like Peru — with no elite tennis players in its recent history — excited about what he might achieve on the tour.
“I think those expectations can catch you off guard at first, of course, because you feel like you owe a lot to everyone. You have to be a little selfish in that sense — I think you have to think a little more about yourself and about the fact that you play for yourself. So I think in the end that is the way to manage it: think only about yourself and your tennis. Then when the match is over, I enjoy it,” said the world No. 34.
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In May, at the Hamburg ATP 500, Buse won his first professional title. Lifting a trophy was his dream for 2026, as he told CLAY in February.
“I surprised myself in Hamburg. Up to that point I felt things were going well, but that tournament opened up a new direction, new objectives. The last few weeks have been like, once again, building a foundation to set new goals, keep improving, hold on to that excitement I have always had,” he said.
His victory in London is also the first Peruvian win at the All England Club since 1994. That year, Jaime Yzaga advanced to the second round by defeating local wildcard Nick Gould. Thirty-two years passed before Buse matched the achievement. And he is already thinking about what none of his male compatriots have managed in the professional era: reaching the third round. He will face North American Jenson Brooksby on Wednesday.
In the amateur era, Alex Olmedo won the 1959 edition, but representing the United States.
Breaking records for his country is something that genuinely excites Buse. He also thinks about Davis Cup and brings it up without even being asked.
“I have an enormous excitement about playing Davis Cup, which is in September, in a very large stadium. I am really looking forward to experiencing it, although I already experience it at many tournaments, because there are always Peruvians cheering me on,” he said. Peru will host Paraguay in Lima in World Group I.
