(Video) Alexander Bublik Struggles to Hold Back Tears After Beating Jack Draper at Roland Garros

Alexander Bublik overcomes Jack Draper in four sets to reach Roland Garros quarterfinals.

(Video) Alexander Bublik Struggles to Hold Back Tears After Beating Jack Draper at Roland Garros

Alexander Bublik Roland Garros (via The Tennis Letter)

An emotional Alexander Bublik told the crowd at Court Suzanne-Lenglen, “I can’t cry here,” after securing another major upset at Roland Garros. Just days earlier, he had staged a comeback from two sets down to defeat Alex de Minaur. This time, he knocked out the fifth seed, Jack Draper.

Bublik, ranked No. 62 in the world, sealed a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win after a tense final game in which he saved five break points. He collapsed to the clay in celebration, overwhelmed by the moment. Though encouraged to let his emotions show, he held back tears despite the standing ovation.

Known for his unpredictable behavior and past clashes with officials, Bublik has shown a different side during this tournament. His focused play and emotional response after the match marked a shift from his usual on-court demeanor. The crowd’s reaction clearly meant a lot to him.

With this victory, the 27-year-old has reached a Grand Slam singles quarter-final for the first time in his career. He now awaits a clash with either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or Andrey Rublev in the next round.

Alexander Bublik reaches career milestone.

Alexander Bublik continued his strong run at Roland Garros on Monday with a four-set win over Jack Draper. It marked his second victory over a Top 10 player this week. Before this tournament, Bublik had never gone past the second round in Paris, not even during his junior career.

Alexander Bublik
Alexander Bublik (via X)

Earlier in the event, Bublik staged a comeback from two sets down to beat Alex de Minaur. With his 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Draper, he made history as the first man from Kazakhstan to reach a singles Grand Slam quarter-final.

Ranked 62nd in the PIF ATP Rankings, Bublik is now the lowest-ranked player since 1999 to beat two Top 10 opponents in a single Roland Garros tournament. That year, Andrei Medvedev achieved the feat while ranked No. 100. Thanks to his performance in Paris, Bublik is closing in on a return to the Top 40.

In the match against Draper, who is currently No. 4 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Bublik was dominant on serve. He won 79 percent of his first-serve points and capitalized on five of six break chances. This win also marked his first victory over Draper in three head-to-head meetings.

Boos directed at Jack Draper after Roland Garros exit

Jack Draper returned to the baseline down two sets to one, hoping to reset and mount a comeback. But his hopes were quickly dashed as Alexander Bublik fired four incredible winners to break Draper’s serve to love. Draper could do little but watch the momentum slip away.

Jack Draper (via X/ATP)
Jack Draper (via X/ATP)

It was a tough night for Draper, the fifth seed in Paris, who was outclassed by an inspired performance from Bublik. The unseeded 27-year-old held steady under pressure and sealed a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory. The win sent Bublik into his first-ever French Open quarter-final.

More than his level of play, the crowd’s reaction toward Draper raised eyebrows. The British player has had a rocky relationship with fans, drawing boos earlier in the season and again during this match. It seems Draper is still struggling to win over the crowd in Paris.

Despite the disappointment, this loss marks a step in Draper’s growth. He arrived at the tournament aiming to improve on clay and ended up with multiple wins and strong performances. While falling short of his goal, Draper’s progress shows he’s moving in the right direction.