The toxic relationship of Alexander Bublik

Jose Morón | 1 Sep 2025 | 12.45

The toxic relationship of Alexander Bublik. Photo: Getty

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Alexander Bublik is like that toxic relationship. You hate it, say you don't like it, can't stand it, it's over... but you end up falling into its clutches once again. As unpredictable as life. That's how the Kazakh arrives tonight in New York, doing something he had never done before in his career.

Because Bublik had only won four matches in his entire life at the US Open. This year, suddenly, three in a row. He didn't feel like playing in the USA. He said it was too far from his family and he wanted to be back with them. This year, it's different. Because this Bublik is not the same.

Imagine the Kazakh always said he hated clay courts, to have an epic Roland Garros experience, reaching the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time. Yes, on clay. The flag bearer of offensive tennis and fast surfaces. Don't try to understand it. You couldn't.

That afternoon, in Paris, he was soundly defeated by Jannik Sinner, but instead of settling, that made him want more. So much so that Bublik got his revenge two weeks later. In Halle, he defeated Jannik to become the only player to beat Sinner in the last 14 months without being named Carlos Alcaraz. Big words.

After a curious slip-up at Wimbledon against Munar, he decided to do something strange, fitting for him. He didn't want to play the Canada-Cincinnati swing. Instead, Bublik went to play two tournaments on clay courts. Yes, on clay. And he won both.

When he arrived in New York, looking at his draw, not even the most optimistic thought Bublik would reach the second week to face Sinner. Without competing in August, without transition tournaments from clay to hard courts, and with his US Open record of just those four victories. Yet, here he is.

This way, the Kazakh enters these last sixteen having won 20 of his last 22 matches and without anyone breaking his serve in New York yet. He served 59 times and held 59 times. In these three matches, he saved 12 break points. Six against Paul, four against Schoolkate, and two against Cilic.

Most likely, Jannik will break his serve several times and stop Bublik, but he knows deep down that the Kazakh is so unpredictable that he cannot relax. If he's on his game, if he feels like it, you have to be very careful with him. Faced with that uncertainty of what might happen, everything remains open, and in that field, Bublik moves like Solid Snake in the Tselinoyarsk jungle.

Like any toxic relationship, with Bublik, you walk that thin line between love and hate. Where you go from constant arguing to the most torrid love ever seen. From not liking that "little belly" of his to finding his endearing little quirk. Either you like him or you love him. Sometimes, even both at the same time.

Tonight's match will be almost like an all-or-nothing scenario. It could happen, or not. But within that 'what if,' if I were you, I wouldn't miss it. Because, what if Bublik feels like wanting to compete? Personally, I can't think of a better story for an Arthur Ashe night session.

Bublik is a peculiar guy, that's for sure.

If he feels like it, he can play and compete. If not, he won't. That simple.

In this US Open, he's doing something he had never done in his life.

Sinner has been warned. pic.twitter.com/gwHztLlF8c
— José Morón (@jmgmoron) September 1, 2025