Bublik, the new clay court genius

Óscar Belloch | 19 Jul 2025 | 23.21

Alexander Bublik at Roland Garros 2025. Photo: Getty

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Alexander Bublik is a coin toss, that's how we could classify him in all aspects surrounding him in tennis. We can never have very high expectations for him, but then he does not disappoint against the best. In one of the strangest weeks in the calendar (Wimbledon ends and we quickly return to clay to then move on to hard court), the Kazakh signed up for the ATP Gstaad 2025 and has undoubtedly been the star of the tournament. He has not yet claimed the title, but he has delighted the Swiss crowd with his tennis. He is also listed for the ATP Kitzbuhel, but he may prefer to save himself for the ATP Toronto.

The year did not start well for Alexander Bublik, as he fell in the first round of the Australian Open to Francisco Cerúndolo by 3-0. He was not himself after putting excessive pressure on himself to achieve great results, and on the verge of sidelining tennis for a few months, Roland Garros 2025 arrived. His performance was more than spectacular, as he won 3-0 against both James Duckworth and Henrique Rocha and surprisingly came back from 0-2 down against Alex De Miñaur. Not content with that, he caused a sensation by defeating Jack Draper with a flashy and crazy game, worthy of a natural talent with the racket (5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4). It was one of the best days of his life and the image with his face covered in clay is already one of the best moments of the year in tennis. After a clear defeat against Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals, Bublik wanted more on clay in 2025.

- Total Authority in Gstaad

He had to play against a compatriot in the first round, Alexander Shevchenko, and showed that what happened in Roland Garros was no coincidence with a flawless level (6-2 6-3). In the quarterfinals, a corrosive Argentine like Francisco Comesaña couldn't stop him either, and in just over an hour, the job was done for the Kazakh (6-4 6-3). He faced a tricky match against Arthur Cazaux, as the Frenchman was on the rise and finally showing a consistent level of play during the week. Nonetheless, Bublik was untouchable and did not concede a single break point in the match, winning 6-1 7-5.

'Sascha' has played 24 matches on clay in 2025. With 18 victories and six defeats, he holds a 75% winning percentage on the surface which positions him with statistics similar to those of the top specialists. And what is the reason for this improvement? Bublik explained that he has 'settled down' in tennis since the birth of his son and that, despite not being a fan of clay, he tries to forget about it and focus on the game because his style can also adapt very well to these conditions with drop shots and the anarchic variation of play.

- In the Absence of Stars, Bublik Shines!

The ATP Gstaad, being outside the spring season when clay court tennis prevails, does not have a positive effect on the main names on the ATP circuit. Most of those in top positions prefer to rest to prepare for the North American hard court tour, and few dare to participate in Gstaad, Bastad, Umag, or Kitzbuhel. One of those who attended the Swiss event was Casper Ruud, and the idea backfired due to his poor performance against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, who made it to the final and will face Bublik. The Argentine, brother of Francisco, has a very characteristic style on clay, patient and varying heights, so the clash of styles with the Kazakh makes this final an exciting match to watch. Nevertheless, Bublik is the well-deserved favorite and will seek his first ATP crown on clay, thus completing at least one trophy on each surface.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bublik, el nuevo genio de la tierra batida