Alexander Bublik says what happened to him was ‘disgraceful’ and nearly made him ‘quit tennis’ before Roland Garros

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Alexander Bublik continues to make history at the French Open, as he now prepares for his quarterfinal match.

The Kazakh ATP star traveled to Paris having failed to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal in his previous 25 attempts.

It seemed like that streak would continue as the 27-year-old trailed by two sets to love in his second-round match, before Bublik fought back to stun Alex de Minaur, booking his place in round three.

There, Bublik took down Portuguese qualifier Henrique Rocha in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1, 6-2, advancing to the fourth round of a Major tournament for just the second time in his career.

Securing his second top ten win in four days, Bublik beat Jack Draper in the last 16, becoming the first Kazakh man to qualify for a Grand Slam quarterfinal.

After the match, Bublik gave his honest opinions on clay-courts and explained why he considered ‘quitting tennis’ earlier this year.

Alexander Bublik felt ‘disgraceful’ falling to number 80 in the world and wanted to ‘quit tennis’

During an interview with TNT Sports, the world number 62 was asked for his thoughts on clay as a surface, having previously said he hated it.

“You know, it’s a very good question. I had no options this year to complain,” said Bublik.

“I was out of the rankings, I was 80 in the world. I was talking to my coach that I want to quit tennis because I can’t be 80th in the world, it feels disgraceful for me, and I hated it.

“Imagine if I approached the clay because I had to defend 800 points, and I said that I can’t play, and I whine and, I just blow it out. I am out of the top 100, and then what?”

Bublik fell to a low of 82nd in the world rankings earlier this year before fighting hard to begin his rise back to the top.

“I just said to myself, you have got to use your chances if I have one. I am going to use it, I am going to fight and try to play on clay and see how it goes,” he said.

“It has worked like this. It’s because I had no room to cry, because if you have room to cry, I will always take the cry! So it’s nice.

“Of course the title that I won in Turin, of course I won 175 points, so I am back in the top 50 and back in the conversation which I feel I deserved to be.

“This win proves it again. For me, I have no room to cry. It’s very simple.”

Bublik enjoyed two standout results on the Challenger Tour ahead of the French Open, which saw him pick up some much-needed ranking points.

• Phoenix Challenger – Lost in F to Joao Fonseca (90 points)
• Turin Challenger – Won, beat Yunchaokete Bu in F (175 points)

Those results saw Bublik begin the French Open ranked 62nd in the world, although he can now look forward to being a top 50 player once more, thanks to his win over Draper.

Producing one of the best performances of his career, Bublik took down the number five seed, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, to set up an intriguing last-eight clash with world number one Jannik Sinner.

Where will Alexander Bublik be ranked after the French Open?

Bublik’s latest win confirmed his return to the world’s top 50, as he now sits 43rd in the Live ATP rankings.

He will, however, be aware of what is at stake when he takes on Sinner in the last eight, knowing that if he were to pull off another upset, he’d return to the seeded spots ahead of Wimbledon.

It was at Wimbledon where Bublik had his previous-best Grand Slam result, reaching the fourth round in 2023.

• 2023 Wimbledon 4R – Alexander Bublik lost to Andrey Rublev, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6
• 2023 Wimbledon 3R – Alexander Bublik beat Maximilian Marterer, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6
• 2023 Wimbledon 2R – Alexander Bublik beat JJ Wolf, 6-3, 7-6, 6-0
• 2023 Wimbledon 1R – Alexander Bublik beat Mackenzie McDonald, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4

He will no doubt be confident of impressing at Wimbledon again in 2025, but will first focus on his quarterfinal match at Roland Garros.

Bublik will take on Sinner for a place in the last four of the French Open on Wednesday, June 4.