Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan celebrates winning match point against Jack Draper of Great Britain (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
PARIS – Alexander Bublik’s stunning victory over fifth seed Jack Draper at the French Open was more than just a personal milestone—it marked the culmination of a significant transformation both on and off the court. With his 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 triumph, Bublik became the first Kazakh man ever to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, propelled by an aggressive game featuring 68 winners and an astonishing 37 successful drop shots.
For Bublik, the win was a remarkable feat, not least because it occurred on clay—a surface he had once openly disliked.
“I simply don’t like it, but these days I don’t mind,” Bublik told CLAY in 2022. “I enjoy playing anywhere. If it’s clay, it’s clay. I’ve changed my approach to many things since my son was born. After all, it’s my job and I have to do it well.”
Fatherhood has significantly reshaped the nearly 28-year-old player’s outlook. A year before the birth of his son Vasily, Bublik expressed how tennis had been an imposed choice rather than a personal passion: “I never had a choice. My father told me to play, so I played. The question if I wanted or not was never raised. That’s just how it was in my family.”
Ironically, Bublik had insisted at the time that he did not want his son to follow in his footsteps.
His new perspective, enriched by personal maturity and a sense of responsibility, was evident during the fourth-round clash with Draper. Despite a strong season that included a title at Indian Wells and a finals appearance in Madrid, Draper was unsettled by Bublik’s inventive and varied shot-making. Draper later confessed to feeling out of control during the match, especially after missing five crucial break points in the decisive game.
The victory set up an even greater challenge: a quarterfinal match against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who advanced by defeating Andrey Rublev. Such a scenario would have seemed improbable for Bublik not long ago, given his historical struggles on clay.
A turning point for Bublik this season came from an unexpected source—a conversation in Dubai with French veteran Gael Monfils.
“I was complaining because I had been on a losing streak,” Bublik shared during one of his press conferences at Roland Garros.
“Gael told me something really wise: ‘Alex, now everyone is super professional… You have your opportunities. You take them. If you waste them, it’s your problem.’”
Bublik clearly took Monfils' advice to heart. As he celebrated his historic advancement, covered in orange clay dust and beaming from ear to ear, Bublik acknowledged this as “the best moment” of his life. His remarkable run continues Wednesday, on Court Philippe Chatrier, where he faces the biggest challenge yet—Sinner, and a chance at the semifinals at Roland Garros.
Sebastián Varela
