Bublik’s Rise: From Vegas Reset to French Open Semi-Final Clash With Sinner

Kazakh star’s unconventional path fuels dream Roland Garros run

Once lost in frustration and on the brink of quitting tennis, Alexander Bublik has roared back with a vengeance at French Open 2025, setting up a semi-final showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner.

Just months ago, the 27-year-old Kazakh admitted he was ready to walk away from the sport, plummeting in the rankings and feeling burnt out. But a surprise trip to Las Vegas with his coach changed everything.

Now, with back-to-back wins over top-10 players Jack Draper and Alex de Minaur, Bublik is one win away from his first Grand Slam final.

From despair to dominance

Alexander Bublik came back from a set down to beat Jack Draper 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4

Bublik opened up about his mental struggles in a raw moment after his four-set win over Draper in the fourth round.

“Sometimes in life, there’s only one chance. I had a feeling that that was mine,” he told the Paris crowd, tears in his eyes.

Having lost eight of his first 10 matches in 2025, Bublik said he “hated” tennis and felt “disgraceful” being ranked outside the top 80.

But following a three-day, no-training trip to Las Vegas, the world number 62 found clarity.

“My coach said, ‘If you keep playing like this, we’re out of tennis.’ I said, ‘Fine. If it works, great. If not – thank you, tennis.’”

That mental reset proved pivotal. A Challenger final in Phoenix followed. A title win in Turin came next. But it’s Paris where Bublik has truly hit form.

Enjoying the game again – on clay

Bublik is the lowest-ranked man to beat two top-10 opponents at Roland Garros since the 100th-ranked Andrei Medvedev beat Pete Sampras and Gustavo Kuerten to reach the 1999 final

Before Roland Garros, Bublik had never won a title on clay and held a career win rate of just 41% on the surface. Now, he’s become the lowest-ranked player since 1999 to beat two top-10 opponents at the French Open.

And he’s doing it with flair. From drop shots to behind-the-back flicks, Bublik is dazzling fans with his unpredictable, joyous tennis.

“Tennis is 50% of my life. I’m a father, a friend. I won’t sacrifice everything for tennis,” he said.

Sinner test awaits in semis

Next up for Bublik: Jannik Sinner, the reigning world number one and a fellow showman on the court.

Bublik, who has a two-year-old son, says he won’t obsess over routine or sacrifice his happiness for results.

“This craziness that we always have to be our best selves? No – we just have to be ourselves.”

As the sport’s most entertaining enigma finds his groove on clay, Bublik may just be writing the most compelling story of Roland Garros 2025.

Match Summary

•  Tournament: French Open 2025

•  Next Match: Alexander Bublik vs Jannik Sinner (Semi-Final)

•  Key Stat: Lowest-ranked man to beat two top-10 players at RG since 1999

•  Current Ranking: No. 62 (projected to return to top 50)