(Video) Alexander Bublik Reignites Feud with Alexei Popyrin by Ignoring Him and Refusing Handshake in Paris

Alexander Bublik tied his head-to-head record over Alexei Popyrin after knocking him out in the Paris Masters first round.

(Video) Alexander Bublik Reignites Feud with Alexei Popyrin by Ignoring Him and Refusing Handshake in Paris

Alexander Bublik refused to shake hands with Alexei Popyrin (Image via X/AllAboutHQ, Tennis TV)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Alexander Bublik simply ignored Alexei Popyrin right after clinching the last point of their first-round match at the Paris Masters. On Monday (October 27), Bublik knocked out the Aussie with a 6-4, 6-3 scoreline.

After the win, Bublik simply walked to the chair umpire for the customary handshake but did not shake Popyrin’s hand. But nothing controversial happened during the match, and this surprised the watchers of the game.

Watch the video here:

It was not because of a previous feud, as Bublik later revealed. The reason why he avoided the handshake was because Popyrin won points off two net cords to break the Kazakh. Popyrin celebrated the point win by pumping his fist and did not apologize, and this baffled Bublik.

There’s tennis etiquette… If [my opponent] doesn’t follow it, why should I?

Alexander Bublik said during the post-match interview

Players generally raise their hands to apologize if they win net cord points. This is not a tennis rule, however. But not apologizing has often led to altercations. Due to this reason, Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko made the now infamous “no class, no education” comment toward America’s Taylor Townsend at this year’s US Open.

Earlier this year, Bublik faced off against Popyrin in the second round of the Madrid Open. Because of a controversial call, he sat on his bench and refused to play before the supervisor came, and Bublik eventually returned to the baseline.

The Paris Masters win over the World No.47 has helped Bublik tie his head-to-head record to 2-2. It was also his second consecutive win over the 26-year-old. Popyrin is the winner of three ATP singles titles, the last of which he lifted at the 2024 Canadian Open by beating Andrey Rublev. This year, he failed to reach a singles final.

Alexander Bublik was not happy with his performance against Alexei Popyrin

Alexander Bublik smashed 31 winners, including 13 aces, to Alexei Popyrin’s three. Bublik also committed just 16 unforced errors (double-fault count was four). But despite this, he was not happy with his performance.

Alexander Bublik
Alexander Bublik (via Punto de Break)

I definitely didn’t play my best today, but tennis is not about bringing your best every day; it’s about winning when you’re not feeling well, and especially in a new venue. You’re kind of used to the old Bercy type of court. Everything, the vibe, is different, so I think it wasn’t easy for both of us, and I was just, I guess, more stable in the crucial moments, and I used my chances better.

Alexander Bublik said during the on-court interview

Bublik has featured in four finals this year, winning all. The 28-year-old clinched the Halle Open by beating Daniil Medvedev, following which, he won the Swiss Open Gstaad against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. He then defeated Arthur Cazaux at the Austrian Open Kitzbuhel and Valentin Royer at the Hangzhou Open. Except for the ATP 500 Halle Open, the other three were ATP 250 tournaments.

I’m quite happy with the win, but I’m not really happy with my performance because I was missing quite a bit, my serve was not really working well. But overall, a win is a win, so I get on and I try to be better next time.

Alexander Bublik added

Bublik has yet to win a Big Title. He, in fact, has never reached a Masters 1000 final. His best performance in a Masters 1000 tournament was his quarterfinal appearances at the 2021 Miami Open and the 2021 Madrid Open.

This year, he reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament only once (at the Madrid Open). Before Paris, Bublik was in Vienna, where his run was ended by eventual winner Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.

Also read: Andrey Rublev Admits he Might Take “a Pause” From Tennis as he’s Completely “Worn out”