French fairytale is over but ranking rise has just started, says Bublik
French fairytale is over but ranking rise has just started, says Bublik
PARIS - Alexander Bublik's excellent run at the French Open came to an end on Wednesday after his straight sets loss to top seed Jannik Sinner but the Kazakh said his rise back up the rankings had just begun.
Bublik, who beat ninth seed Alex De Minaur in the second round and stunned fifth seed Jack Draper in the fourth to reach his first ever Grand Slam quarter-final, did not have a chance against the world number one, who won 6-1 7-5 6-0.
For the 27-year-old Bublik, who had risen as high as 17th in the world in June 2024 and was a top-50 player between 2020-2024, this run was exactly the boost he needed.
"It's the best clay court season I ever had, and it's a positive impact on my rankings," Bublik told a press conference.
He is currently ranked 62nd but will move into 43rd spot next week when the next rankings are released.
"I'm back in the top 50, I think where I belong. I do believe that this is just the start to try to climb back, you know, to the top 20."
Bublik, known more for his phenomenal touch and trick shots and less for his work ethic compared to other top players, put in the hard yards during the clay court season, playing six events prior to the French Open, and it paid off.
He has been candid about the need to balance the grind of tour life with family life and said he will not be setting the bar too high now.
"I never had the goals to be a Grand Slam champion. I never had this," Bublik said.
"Tennis for me is a journey. Tennis for me is a part of life, an important part of life, but quarter-final here, it's like achievements on the wall. That's another tick in the box.
"As long as things are working, and if, for the next 10 years I will be a top-50, 60 player in the world, that's totally fine for me," he said. REUTERS
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