Alexander Bublik Reveals He Considered Retiring Earlier This Year: “I was Quite Worried”

Alexander Bublik took home four titles this season, including his second ATP 500 title at the Halle Open.

Alexander Bublik Reveals He Considered Retiring Earlier This Year: “I was Quite Worried”

Alexander Bublik (Image via X/ESPN Tenis)

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Alexander Bublik was so worried about his career last year that he even considered quitting tennis. Last year, he won and lost one final.

He defeated Borna Coric in the ATP 250 Open Sud de France, an d later lost the Dubai Open to Ugo Humbert. Since then, he struggled to make deep runs in the rest of the tournaments he played, losing in his first or second matches the majority of the time. The losing streak continued earlier this season as well.

I was very dissatisfied with myself at the end of last season, and even at the beginning of this one; I even considered ending my career because I was afraid of dropping out of the top 100; that would have changed everything. After Indian Wells, I went to Las Vegas for three days to unwind, but in reality, I left feeling quite worried. From then on, it was like the start of a mission.

Alexander Bublik told Tennis Magazine

But at the French Open, he ended up playing the quarterfinals, losing the match to eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner. At the Halle Open, then, he knocked out the four-time Grand Slam champion (also the defending champion) in the second round before reaching the final and beating Daniil Medvedev to end his title drought.

I tried to vary my game and, suddenly, I became much more consistent. My training also evolved; for example, I significantly improved my forehand, especially on clay. I gained confidence in Challenger tournaments, fighting to climb back up the rankings.

Alexander Bublik added

After winning the Halle Open, the Kazakh ace went on to feature in three more finals, winning all. He went past Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the Swiss Open Gstaad, while at the Austrian Open Kitzbuhel, he defeated Arthur Cazaux. Bublik clinched his fourth title of the season by beating Valentin Royer at the Hangzhou Open.

Alexander Bublik on being one of the three active men to win titles on all surfaces

Alexander Bublik is one of the third active players on the men’s tour to win a title on all three surfaces in a single season. The other two players are none other than Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. During that aforementioned interview with Tennis Magazine, Bublik was asked about this stat.

Alexander Bublik (3)
Alexander Bublik (Image via X/ESPN Tenis)

No, I didn’t know that. But it confirms for me that I’m on the right track. My goal now is to reach the top 10. It would be a dream to achieve that someday. And I now feel that if I use my potential and continue to work with focus, I can actually do it.

Djokovic and Alcaraz have won titles on every surface in multiple seasons. This year, while the Serb reached the semifinals of all four Majors and lifted only two ATP 250 titles at the Geneva Open and the Hellenic Championship, Alcaraz finished the season with eight trophies from 11 finals, the most on the men’s tour.

The Spaniard took home four titles on hardcourt (Rotterdam Open, Cincinnati Masters, US Open, and the Japan Open), three on clay (Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, and the French Open), and one on grass (Queen’s Club Championships). Alcaraz also made the title clash of the ATP Finals for the first time, but couldn’t end the match in his favor, losing in straight sets to Jannik Sinner, who won the year-end title for the second consecutive time.

Bublik finished the season as career-high No.11, while Djokovic, the former World No.1, stands in the fourth position. Alcaraz clinched the year-end No.1 trophy despite starting the ATP Finals as the No.2 player.

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