Ignacio Buse did not expect to reach such a high level so soon. His first ATP final, achieved this Saturday 23 May in Hamburg, catapulted him inside the top 40.
“Things moved a little faster than expected, honestly. I did not think it would all happen so quickly, but I have enjoyed it enormously,” the Peruvian told CLAY.
Buse forgot to enter the German ATP 500 in time, so he had to come through qualifying — something that ultimately worked in his favour: “I found my rhythm and ended up playing great tennis.”
The 22-year-old analysed the current situation of his friend João Fonseca and spoke about the pressure weighing on the Brazilian’s shoulders. “It is admirable that he is trying to live with that pressure rather than shake it off.”
Interview with Ignacio Buse
— Ignacio, when we spoke at last year’s Wimbledon, you said things were finally falling into place. Since then you have had strong results on the ATP tour: a semifinal in Rio de Janeiro, a final in Hamburg. What does it mean to be living this moment?
— It is very special. And obviously I am eager to keep enjoying it. I think it has been a process I have deeply enjoyed. After Wimbledon I had some good moments. Towards the end of last year I won my second Challenger, I played Ben Shelton on Arthur Ashe… and then in 2026 things have been going well. Things moved a little faster than expected, honestly. I did not think it would all happen so quickly, but I have enjoyed it enormously. I want to keep improving — and I am not talking about ranking. Keep improving aspects of my tennis, which I think is what matters most.
— You had to play in Rio de Janeiro with the crowd entirely against you. Against João Fonseca on the Guga Kuerten center court. What was that like?
— It is special. I enjoy it, yes. The two times I have felt it most were against Nicolás Jarry in Chile, when Peru visited for Davis Cup, and then in Brazil. I like it because it is a challenge. Mistakes cost more. When you miss, or even when the other player gets a lucky shot, it weighs on you a little more because of the crowd. The pressure of a hostile crowd forces you not to miss, because if you do they make you pay for it. And that is also beautiful because it is a bigger challenge. I love challenges.
— How did you experience the hype around Fonseca in Brazil?
— It is crazy, honestly. I have a lot of empathy for him because in Peru people also follow tennis with great passion, but Brazil is a much, much bigger country. I empathise a lot with him because of all the pressure he must be trying to manage. It is very difficult. You need an incredible mentality to handle all of that, and I think he is already doing it very well. I will always wish João the best.
— Do you think that pressure is affecting him?
— João has a very strong mentality. I think it is admirable that he is trying to live with that pressure rather than shake it off. It inevitably affects you, I think. But whether positively or negatively — sometimes it goes one way, sometimes the other. It depends, and everyone has their own process. I think his goal is very clear within his team: keep improving. And his team is doing the right thing by trying to limit media exposure and staying focused on getting better.
— You are 22, he is 19. Could Fonseca versus Buse become the South American rivalry of the future? How do you see that?
— I hope we have many more battles, honestly. A tennis career is very long and new talents can always emerge. Right now there are other young South Americans — Daniel Vallejo, Gonzalo Bueno, Lautaro Midón… there are many who will rise, I am confident of that. And I also hope new talents come through. I think the federations are doing great work investing in the future, which is the most important thing.
— And a dream for 2026?
— Win an ATP title.
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