Alexander Bublik’s career took a dramatic turn from despair to triumph, with one of the best moments of his life coming after the lowest point of his tennis journey.
The 27-year-old has had a rocky relationship with the sport. In a 2020 interview, he openly admitted to hating tennis “with all my heart.”
In 2025, his frustration reached new heights. After a dismal start to the season—losing eight of his first 10 matches and falling down the rankings—Bublik’s coach recommended a drastic change in strategy.
The solution was unconventional: practice less and take a trip to Las Vegas. At the time, it seemed like a last-ditch effort, but it has paid off spectacularly.
Bublik, now on a surprising French Open run, is looking to take another step towards a first Grand Slam semi-final. On Wednesday, he faces world number one Jannik Sinner, hoping to pull off another stunning upset.
His path to this point has already been filled with surprises, including victories over top-10 players Jack Draper and Alex de Minaur. All of this has unfolded in a matter of weeks after Bublik had seriously considered quitting the sport.
“My coach suggested a trip to Vegas,” Bublik recalled. “He said, if you keep playing like this, we’ll be out of tennis, out of the conversation. I told him, ‘OK, if it works, it works. If not, thank you very much, tennis.’”
It’s safe to say that decision has turned out to be a game-changer.
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