Alexander Bublik Cites Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s Examples to Explain Importance of Pressure After Halle Win

Alexander Bublik secured his career's first win over Daniil Medvedev in their seventh head-to-head meeting.

Alexander Bublik Cites Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s Examples to Explain Importance of Pressure After Halle Win

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Bublik (Image via X/Giovanni Pelazzo, The Tennis Letter)

Alexander Bublik lifted his first title of the season on Sunday (June 22). He went past Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to lift the Halle Open.

It was the second time Bublik emerged victorious in the ATP 500 tournament in Halle, following the 2023 season. En route to the win, he knocked out World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the second round. At the press conference after lifting the second grass-court title of his career, the Kazakh ace talked about the importance of pressure by citing Sinner and World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz‘s examples.

It’s not true that I don’t feel pressure. When an athlete stops feeling pressure, it’s time to retire. When we see the greats like the Big 3 or Alcaraz or Sinner, they don’t show it to the public and maintain their level. However, the moment they no longer feel the pressure, they could go play in their backyard because they wouldn’t feel anything whether they win or lose, and professional sports would lose its meaning.

While Bublik became the champion in Halle on Sunday, on that same day, Alcaraz captured his career’s fourth grass-court title at the Queen’s Club Championships by overcoming Jiri Lehecka. It was his 18th consecutive tour-level win as before the grass swing, he won back-to-back titles in Rome and Paris by beating Sinner.

The Queen’s was also the Spaniard’s fifth title of the season as he also lifted the Rotterdam Open and the Monte Carlo Masters. These wins are helping Alcaraz to close the gap on the rankings table as he and top-ranked Sinner now have 9,300 and 10,430 points, respectively.

Sinner failed to reach a tour-level final for the first time since last year’s Canadian Open in August. He has so far won just the Australian Open this season, following which he missed three months due to his doping ban.

He could meet the five-time Grand Slam champion in the Wimbledon final. The 23-year-old was the semifinalist in 2023, while Alcaraz will be entering the grass-court Major as the two-time defending champion.

Alexander Bublik beats Daniil Medvedev for the first time in his career

Alexander Bublik secured a win over Daniil Medvedev for the first time in his career. Before the Halle Open, he lost all the six matches he played against the Russian ace.

Alexander Bublik, Daniil Medvedev
Alexander Bublik, Daniil Medvedev (Image via X/We Are Tennis, The Tennis Letter)

I felt that these conditions favored me and I tried to be very focused and engaged mentally in the match. I had many easy points with my serve, and despite the history I had against Medvedev, I knew that today I would have chances.

Alexander Bublik said at the press conference

It was their first meeting this season. Medvedev progressed to a tour-level final for the first time since 2024 Indian Wells. Last year, he reached two finals, and apart from Indian Wells, he played the Australian Open final but lost a five-set battle to three-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner.

Medvedev was searching for his first title since winning his career’s first clay-court trophy at the 2023 Italian Open. He has one grass-court title under his belt- the 2021 Mallorca Open. After the warm-up event, both the players will start their preparation for Wimbledon. The 2021 US Open champion has never progressed to the final.

He was the semifinalist in 2023 and 2024. Last year, after overcoming Sinner in a five-set quarterfinal, the 29-year-old lost in four sets to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Bublik, on the other hand, hasn’t yet advanced to the quarterfinal of the grass-court Major. He reached the last 16 in 2023 but last year, Tommy Paul knocked him out of the third round.

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