Ignacio Buse beat Mannarino at the Mutua Madrid Open 2026 to claim the first victory of his career in a Masters 1000, then said the result came after a strong week of work in Barcelona and in Madrid’s high-altitude conditions.
Buse said the conditions in the Spanish capital suit him and that the training block leading into the tournament mattered as much as the match itself. He described Barcelona as a good base, saying he felt his decisions were coming together and that the sessions in Madrid had helped him build confidence before his win.
The Peruvian, who is now peeking into the ATP top 50, said the result was also a marker of where his level stands. “It’s a good gauge to see where you are and what you need to do to raise your level even more,” he said, adding that he wants to keep improving rather than dwell on one result.
The win came with a familiar next challenge in view: Arthur Fils. Buse said they are the same age and have known each other since they were 13 or 14, when they first met in junior tournaments. Even so, he insisted he is treating it like any other match, saying he wants to focus on one round at a time and enjoy the moment rather than look too far ahead.
Madrid has also felt like home for another reason. Buse said there were many Peruvians in Miami and again in Madrid, and that the support has given him a boost. “I feel at home,” he said, hoping the next round would bring another strong showing from his countrymen in the stands.
Off the court, he has been doing what he can to keep tennis in perspective. Buse said he usually disconnects by not checking many results, spending time with his family or playing golf, though he made an exception in Barcelona and watched more live tennis than usual. In Madrid, he has been making the most of the city, including a restaurant near the Bernabéu called El Larram and a tapas bar he visited the day before the interview.
For a player still climbing, the significance of the day is plain: a first Masters 1000 win, a top-50 push and a test against a player he has known for nearly a decade. What comes next will show whether this is just a breakthrough week or the start of something larger for Buse.
