A new Bublik: virtuosity turned into a threat

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Something has changed in the mind of Alexander Bublik. The Kazakh possesses a tennis game that very few people have today on the men's circuit. An unfailing serve, an aggressive forehand, and above all a touch of virtuosity, which is a blend of delicacy and boldness, allowing him to have a catalog of shots at his disposal, sometimes only reachable by the chosen few. He seems to demonstrate this now by reaching the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and after conquering the ATP Halle. However, the theory did not always translate into practice due to a mentality and a series of attitudes that had distanced him from where he should be, considering his tennis quality, and turning him into a 'highlights' player where many times the character overshadowed the person.

From returning with the racket handle to throwing the racket in the air to reach a drop shot, passing through his countless underarm serves (commonly known as 'spoon serve'), in short, pure and hard virtuosity. However, this excess of 'magic' took its toll on more than one occasion. He trusted everything to talent and forgot about the work needed to compete for major titles. This sometimes led to unprofessional attitudes, especially on clay courts.

"I hate clay, I hope not to step on it for the next ten years. I hate playing on this surface, I don't feel comfortable here because my game doesn't suit this type of court. I hope the clay court season ends soon so I can play on grass," claimed the Kazakh three years ago when he was showing a completely different tennis and attitude compared to when he competed on hard or grass courts. In fact, his five titles have come on these two surfaces (two on grass and three on hardcourt).

Something changed at the Turin Challenger

But something changed in 2025, specifically in May, when he traveled to Turin to play a Challenger after being eliminated in the second round of the Rome Masters 1000. Not many had high hopes for a Bublik who had been having a somewhat irregular season so far. However, he claimed the title and then traveled to Roland Garros with a confidence he had never had before. He arrived in Paris and, quietly, went through the rounds until becoming the surprise of the men's draw when he defeated Alex de Miñaur in the round of 16 and Jack Draper in the quarterfinals. He fell to Jannik Sinner in the quarters, but the displayed image left him more strengthened than ever.

"Maybe this is the first year I haven't complained about playing on clay," he stated after his performance on clay courts. What was seen in Paris was not a mere illusion. What he achieved at Roland Garros was a demonstration that a good mindset combined with great tennis can turn Bublik into a player to watch. He shifted from passivity and showmanship to focusing within the court, enhancing his best shots (serve and forehand) and playing a much more tactical and organized tennis.

This same Bublik showed up this week in Halle when he claimed the title in Germany after taking revenge against Sinner in the quarters and defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final for the first time in his career. With this success, the Kazakh climbed to number 30 in the ATP rankings and will be a seed at Wimbledon. A noteworthy aspect that Medvedev himself mentioned during the trophy presentation: "Please, land on Carlos' or Jannik's side in the Wimbledon main draw." Although said in jest by the Russian, it is a fact that the 27-year-old player will be one to avoid in London.

With a tennis game perfectly suited to the speed and technical demand of grass, Bublik will be a headache for his opponents. Not only for his tennis quality and magic-filled shots he usually displays but also for his new mindset that focuses on what truly matters: playing tennis. It remains to be seen if this great version of the Kazakh will show up at the tennis cathedral or if the show and arrogance will once again overshadow his talent. Fans of this sport hope for the former option.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un nuevo Bublik: el virtuosismo convertido en amenaza