Buse was nearly Shelton's college teammate, now they are US Open opponents

ATP Tour

Buse was nearly Shelton's college teammate, now they are US Open opponents

Learn more about the Peruvian's tennis journey

ATP Tour Ignacio Buse is competing in a major main draw for the first time at the US Open, where he qualified. By Andrew Eichenholz

In 2022, Ignacio Buse was one of the top junior tennis prospects in the world and a highly coveted college tennis recruit. The Peruvian had his pick of the best college tennis programmes in the United States and his three favourites were the University of Georgia, Baylor University and the University of Florida.

Buse vividly remembers visiting the University of Florida with his father, Hans Buse, who was his longtime coach. At the time, Bryan Shelton was the head coach and his son, Ben played No. 1 singles and eventually won the NCAA Singles title.

“That visit was amazing. I was with Ben and all the other players in the team, Bryan,” Buse, who later committed to the University of Georgia, recalled. “When I called Bryan [to tell him of my decision], I didn’t know what to say to him. I told him, ‘Look, Bryan, this was such a difficult decision. I am going to go to Georgia, but I love UF and I know our paths are going to cross in the future’.”

On Sunday, Buse will face Shelton, now the No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, in the first round of the US Open. It will be the Peruvian’s first Grand Slam main draw match.

“He was a funny guy. He was already really good. I think he was playing No. 1,” Buse recalled of his visit. “But I don’t know, I would have never believed he would do those steps so fast. He was playing college and now he’s No. 6 in the world, it’s amazing. If you told me at that time I was going to play the first round against Ben in Ashe, I wouldn’t believe you.

“It’s an experience, but I know Ben is a really good guy and I’m looking forward to playing against him.”

Buse never played college tennis. He was struggling to secure a visa to attend school in the United States and after stunning Nicolas Jarry last year as a 19-year-old ranked outside the Top 400 in the PIF ATP Rankings, college was off the radar.

The 21-year-old’s tennis journey began at the Country Club de Villa in Peru where his father, Hans, was a coach.

“I learned with him since I was two or three years old. I basically grew up with a racquet in my hand,” Buse said. “My country club, he was the head coach at that club and it was near my house. I went to him whenever I could, to his classes to play. I’ve loved the game since I was a child.”

One of the things Buse loved was competition, especially with his father. By the age of 11 or 12, Ignacio was able to beat Hans in a tie-break and they would go at it in mini games.

“Sometimes I was getting so pissed with him, because he was beating me and sometimes he beat me, sometimes he let me win,” Buse recalled. “But he was also a competitive guy, so he didn’t want to lose.” That fiery spirit helped Buse reach No. 9 in the ITF Junior Rankings. Although he did not end up going to college, the Peruvian moved to Barcelona, where he trains at the Tennis Empowerment Centre Carles Ferrer Salat under coach Juan Lizariturry. There, Buse counts 2002 Roland Garros champion Albert Costa as a mentor.

“I’m so happy to be there. This academy doesn’t only care about us as tennis players,” Buse said, before speaking about the influence of Costa, who will be in his box Sunday. “He has been so good. [His message has been] to be [focused] every point.

“He always tells me when I’m on court that it doesn’t matter if I do three double faults in a row or whatever I do. He just wants the next point that I am 100 per cent prepared. It doesn’t matter the points before, just to try and put the maximum I can to the next point and erase the other points.”

Buse can also count on the support of his uncle, world-renowned chef Gaston Acurio. Buse and his team went to Acurio’s restaurant Jarana in New Jersey on Friday and they spoke over the phone.

“He told me, ‘Let’s go beat this guy!’” Buse recalled with a laugh. “I said to him, ‘Well, yeah, first step by step’. I told him it’s just like another match, nothing changes. I try to visualise the match.

“I’m so happy to live this experience, but I want to go match by match. I want to feel like it’s just another match, just like the first round of qualifying, the second round of qualifying… I trust myself and I will try to enjoy tomorrow.”

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