The most sincere Bublik: "I thought about quitting tennis for a few months"

Óscar Belloch | 22 Jun 2025 | 20.00

Alexander Bublik at ATP Halle 2025. Photo: Getty

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Alexander Bublik is one of those tennis players who doesn't leave anyone indifferent. The Kazakh is loved by many and hated by others, as he has always seemed to not take professional tennis seriously and has sometimes made controversial remarks both on and off the court that could upset some more purist sectors. However, it cannot be denied that in recent weeks he has been playing the best tennis of his career and with the title at ATP Halle 2025, he is now a big threat to the top contenders for Wimbledon.

Following his spectacular performance at Roland Garros, Alexander Bublik explained that he had faced problems after Wimbledon 2024. Upon reaching the highest ranking of his career, he started feeling excessive pressure in his matches, seeking great results that did not materialize and a step forward in his professional career. After winning the ATP Halle 2025 in a thrilling final against Daniil Medvedev, the Kazakh spoke at a press conference to share his feelings about the rollercoaster that this season has been for him.

- A terrible streak of results before Roland Garros

"Those who follow my career will know that since Wimbledon 2024, I've been dealing with poor results. I dropped significantly in the rankings and didn't know why I was playing so poorly, so my coach advised me to be professional and play at least until this Wimbledon. In case I fell out of the top 100 or felt very bad, I thought about leaving tennis for a few months. The truth is that reaching the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and winning the title here in Halle is something that didn't even enter my best expectations in this short period of time. This is a great rebirth for my career."

- First victory over Medvedev after seven attempts

They had played six times before, and Bublik had only won one set, but they had never played on grass: "I felt that these conditions favored me and I tried to be very focused and engaged mentally in the match. I had many easy points with my serve, and despite the history I had against Medvedev, I knew that today I would have chances."

"Beating Daniil is basically due to mentality. I know he is better than me in almost everything, but I knew that I had to make the most of the things I could do better. I changed things compared to the last times we played, and it worked for me."

- Tennis, just a game

"Sometimes we forget that this is ultimately a game, even for players like me. You can be more or less professional, but it's important to know that this really is a game, not a job. This is a sport, entertainment for people, and while it's difficult and demands a lot of effort, in the end, it's just a game and we must remember that. Despite that, sometimes it's very beautiful, and other times it's very devastating."

"I approached this like a job that demanded a lot and that's when I had more problems on the court, but I had to tell my coach to think that this is a game and everything improved."

- On feeling the pressure

"It's not true that I don't feel pressure. When an athlete stops feeling pressure, it's time to retire. When we see the greats like the Big 3 or Alcaraz or Sinner, they don't show it to the public and maintain their level. However, the moment they no longer feel the pressure, they could go play in their backyard because they wouldn't feel anything whether they win or lose, and professional sports would lose its meaning."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Bublik más sincero: "Pensé en dejar el tenis unos meses"