Alexander Bublik enjoyed a strong 2024 season, which saw him remain inside the world’s top 50.
Bublik enjoyed another positive year on the ATP Tour, as he added to his ever-growing trophy collection.
Bublik won the Open Suud de France earlier in the year, beating Borna Coric in straight sets to take home his fourth career title.
It was the second title in three years for the Kazakh star at the event, having won his first-ever ATP title against Alexander Zverev at the tournament back in 2022.
The 27-year-old also reached the final of the Dubai Open this year, as he came up just short against Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
Another strong season for the Kazakh number one, but one that he may not have had, should he have retired at 25 years old, as he once thought he would.
Alexander Bublik explains why he wanted to retire from tennis in 2022
Speaking to Nick Kyrgios and Patrick Mouratoglou for UTS, Bublik recalled a time during his career that he wanted to retire.
“I was saying ‘I don’t want to play tennis, I don’t like that, I want to play for money all these things’,” he said.
“At that moment in 2022, I could finish and leave peacefully, you know do nothing.
“All of a sudden I was like is it me? Is it really me saying saying that?”
Bublik looked back upon his time in tennis, before eventually deciding not to retire from the sport.
“I said, do I like it or do I not?” said the Kazakh number one.
“I said yes, that was my dream, yes, so then I have to respect that.
“I have to respect that kid that was standing next to the mirror [practicing].
“I said to myself and my wife that I have to respect that life gave me the opportunity to [play tennis].”
The world number 33, is thankful that he made the decision to continue, as he now believes his mindset has completely changed.
“Since then, everything has changed for me, because I’m not stressed anymore on the court,” said Bublik.
“If I lose that’s life, if I win, that’s life too.
“Everything changed in my tennis when I simply reminded myself that this was what I wanted.”
Who were the youngest tennis players to retire from the sport?
Fans are no doubt thankful that Bublik made the decision to continue playing tennis, but there have been several other ATP and WTA stars who stepped away from the game at a very young age.
Ashleigh Barty – 25 years old
Ashleigh Barty shocked the tennis world when she retired from the sport at just 25 years of age, back in 2022.
The Australian was ranked number one in the world, and the defending champion at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
The three-time Major champion said that she no longer had the emotional or physical drive to compete, as she instead looked to ‘chase other dreams’.
Bjorn Borg – 26 years old
11 times a Grand Slam champion at just 26 years old, the story of Bjorn Borg is often one that asks what could’ve been.
The Swede called it quits in 1986, having grown frustrated with the sport, despite his dominance on the ATP Tour for much of the past decade.
Borg attempted a comeback in 1991, but struggled to find the form that he had shown during his previous stint and retired once more in 1993.
Martina Hingis – 22 years old
Swiss star Martina Hingis won five Major titles before her 20th birthday as she took the tennis world by storm, smashing several records that may never be touched.
Her early career exploits did see her burn out quickly however, as injuries saw her retire from the sport at just 22 years old.
As is often the case with stars who retire young, Hingis returned to the sport on multiple occasions, achieving the majority of her success on the doubles court, where she returned to world number one, and won a further four Major titles.
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