Alexander Bublik is one of the players hoping to close the gap on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Bublik has spoken positively about Alcaraz and Sinner as people, despite the top two players dominating the ATP Tour in recent years.
This has continued into 2026, with Alcaraz winning the Australian Open, while Sinner completed the Sunshine Double.
While they have continued to collect silverware, Alcaraz and Sinner are yet to play each other this year and Bublik has responded when asked if the rest of the ATP Tour are closing the gap on them.
Alexander Bublik dismisses suggestions that the gap is closing on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Bublik was asked specifically about playing Sinner when speaking to Spazio Tennis, having faced the Italian eight times.
The Kazakhstani has only won two of those matches, with Bublik beating Sinner in Halle last year, the same tournament where his other victory came via retirement in 2023.
There have been some suggestions that Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominance has made men’s tennis a bit predictable, but Bublik appears to be a fan of their rivalry.
“I don’t think I’ve played Jannik when he was not in the zone, to be honest,” said Bublik. “I guess I only played him once in Halle when he retired, he was a little bit injured. That was probably the only match where he was not like 100% on.
“I think that’s why Jannik is who he is, because he’s always giving 100% and I think someone like Jannik is great for the sport.
“I really adore his way and I really like that there is this ice and fire with Carlos, and I think it’s really healthy for the sport and really healthy for the environment in general, for the fans to see the differences.”
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Bublik is the current world number 11 and was one of only three players to beat Sinner last year, alongside Alcaraz and Tallon Griekspoor.
Following Alcaraz’s surprise defeat to Sebastian Korda in Miami, Bublik was asked if he thinks the gap is now closing on the Spaniard and Sinner.
“I don’t think so,” responded Bublik. “I think for Jannik and Carlos in my opinion, maybe they’re going to correct me in the locker room if they see it, but I think for them the goal is the Slam.
“They are untouchable in the Slams, so that is it. The only person to beat Jannik in a Slam is Carlos and [Novak] Djokovic.
“…So no-one is getting closer, in my opinion. Because for me the Slams, if I was to put myself in the position of one or the other, why would I care about anything else? I need to achieve something big. I need to try to surpass Rafa [Nadal], try to get close to Roger [Federer], try to get close to Novak. So in order to do that, I’ve got to be focused there.
So, if we see that Jannik or Carlos will go five sets against a no-one ranked 85 in the world week in week out at the Slams, then we can say maybe someone is getting closer, but for now I don’t think.”
At the four tournaments they have both played this year, both Alcaraz and Sinner have won two titles each.
Showcasing how dominant they have been in recent years, only one man has won a tournament where both Alcaraz and Sinner have played since 2024.
| Tournaments both Alcaraz and Sinner have played in 2026 | Champion | Runner-up |
| Australian Open | Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic |
| Qatar Open | Carlos Alcaraz | Arthur Fils |
| Indian Wells | Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev |
| Miami Open | Jannik Sinner | Jiri Lehecka |
Alexander Bublik wants to play Carlos Alcaraz for the first time
While Bublik has played Sinner eight times, including four meetings over the past year, he is still yet to face Alcaraz.
This is something that Bublik is hoping to do at least once in his career, and he has suggested that he is hoping it is on indoor hard courts, where he believes he would have the best opportunity to beat the world number one.
“I think indoor hard court is, I wouldn’t say that it’s not his specialty, but I am better on indoor hard, so the more the environment suits me, the more chances I hypothetically have against top players,” explained Bublik.
“So like I said, when I beat Jannik I beat him in a closed roof on indoor grass. I guess that’s an environment both of us haven’t practiced at all in our lives, but it favors me a lot. It’s not like it doesn’t favor him, but it favors me, so my chances are rising than when I play him on a slow 1pm match at Roland Garros.
“So hypothetically I’m the best version of myself in indoor hard and the court is fast. All these ifs, but it makes no sense to talk, because it didn’t happen, but we will see. I think I’m going to play him one day, we’re going to be having a couple of matches hopefully in my career.”
Will Carlos Alcaraz bounce back by winning the Monte Carlo Masters?
If not, who will win the title?
Bublik could actually play Alcaraz for the first time at the Monte Carlo Masters, as they are both just one win away from meeting in the quarterfinals.
Miami Open finalist Jiri Lehecka will be Bublik’s next opponent, while Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Terence Atmane are standing in the way of Alcaraz.
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