NEW YORK — His dream for 2026 was to win one ATP title and he already has two. Ignacio Buse arrived at the US Open full of confidence, with a new title under his belt and the hope of matching his grandfather’s record.
“It is very special to win your first match at a US Open. I think everything has been on the rise this year,” he said in New York to a small group of media, including CLAY.
His 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8) and 6-1 victory in the first round on Wednesday against American Marcos Giron carries an extra layer of meaning: in the Amateur Era, his grandfather Eduardo Buse competed three times in the US Open singles draw (when the tournament was called the US National Championships and was held at Forest Hills). Buse won a match in the 1942 edition, and another in 1958.
He and his brother Enrique played a great deal of doubles together. The 22-year-old remembers them fondly: “My grandparents were exceptional in their time, when there was no ATP ranking. They were the best doubles pair in South America and Latin America. They played everything: US Open, Wimbledon…”
One of Peru’s most important courts is named in their honour: the Estadio Coliseo de los Hermanos Buse at the Lawn Tennis de la Exposición club in Lima. It is the historic home of the Peruvian Davis Cup team. It was there that Andre Agassi made his debut in the competition, when in April 1988 he faced Peruvian Jaime Yzaga at the age of 17.
The week after the US Open, Peru will host Paraguay in World Group I of Davis Cup. It will not be at the traditional venue. Ignacio Buse and his teammates will face Daniel Vallejo’s team at the Jockey Club.
“The Estadio Hermanos Buse is special to me, but for budget reasons the Jockey Club was a much better option — we could build a better stadium, and logistically it also worked out better. In the end the decision was made and I am very happy with it. I think it is the right call for this tie,” he explained at Flushing Meadows.
The Peruvian player has been living in Barcelona for three years now.
“One goal I have is to be able to have a base in Lima with the best infrastructure and people to train with. I trust that the Peruvian Federation is doing a great job. They are also putting on more and more tournaments in South America. The circuit is not going to change — you have to spend a lot of time away. But I am hopeful that at some point I will be able to base myself in the country,” he said.
In February, Buse revealed in an interview with CLAY his desire to lift his first professional trophy. In May, at the Hamburg ATP 500, he fulfilled that dream. In the lead-up to the US Open he added the Winston-Salem ATP 250 title.
“I have been training very well, trusting my team a lot — I think that is very important. Small things are falling into place — well, not so small… I won another ATP title!” he said with a smile.
“I think every day matters, whether it is a training session. Every day is being given the importance it deserves, and that is very important for continuing to improve,” added the world No. 30.
