Alexander Bublik: "Enjoy playing tennis now"
Alexander Bublik achieved his best result so far in the ATP world rankings in 2022 with rank 30. In general, the enfant terrible has changed a lot in terms of his attitude towards tennis.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 15, 2022, 09:34 am
"To be honest, I don't see a positive thing in being a tennis pro. If there weren't any money, I would quit immediately." It was memorable words that Alexander Bublik gave at the beginning of 2020 on the sidelines of the ATP 250 event in Marseille. The Kazakh eccentric's joy in his bread and butter job was apparently limited. In Marseille, he also loudly announced several times how much he hated tennis.
Now, two and a half years later, that attitude seems to have changed at Bublik. Two years after the appearance in Marseille, the 25-year-old reached the top 30 for the first time, his best result so far in the ATP world rankings. The 25-year-old is currently in 43rd place, and Bublik was able to celebrate winning a title in 2022. "It was no joke that I said I play tennis for the money, because at that time I didn't enjoy what I was doing," the Kazakh told Ubitennis on the sidelines of the ATP 250 event in Florence .com
Bublik: "Love playing tennis"
"But over time, and it's been three years since that interview, things have changed a lot and I enjoy playing tennis now because I've realized that's what I've been doing since I was a kid wanted," said the 25-year-old. "Growing up, I would stand in front of the mirror and wear Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer clothes and dream of playing in (tennis) arenas." He has now remembered this dream.
In addition, the statements were a bit wrong at the time, and from Bublik's point of view, they were also hyped up a bit too much in the media: "When this thing about playing only for money got too big, I thought that wasn't quite right, because I dreamed of being here in front of thousands to stand by people. I definitely enjoy and love playing tennis," says the 25-year-old, who is still a bit behind the direct competition in terms of professionalism. "As a professional, there are still people in the industry who ask: Do you have a coach? Do you have a fitness coach? And they're surprised. It happens to me too, but slowly I can become as professional as some of the greats in the sport," so Bublik.