Emotional Alexander Bublik speaks after beating Alex de Minaur and achieving big career first

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Alexander Bublik produced another impressive performance to reach the Paris semifinals.

Trailing Australia’s Alex de Minaur by a set to love in the quarters, the Kazakh star refused to be beaten.

Fighting back to take the second set 6-4, Bublik immediately began applying pressure in the decider.

Eventually, De Minaur crumbled, double-faulting to hand Bublik the break, which he consolidated to win 6-7, 6-4, 7-5.

Overcome with emotion after the match, Bublik composed himself in time for his on-court interview, where he spoke about the career first he’d just achieved.

Alexander Bublik speaks after reaching new career-high

The 28-year-old was delighted with the win, advancing to his maiden Masters 1000 semifinal and securing a new career-high ranking.

“It’s definitely a big win, it’s also a milestone win, I’m definitely hitting my new career high, I hit it yesterday, I’m going to hit it today regardless of the outcome of Sascha [Zverev’s] match,” said Bublik.

“Making my first semifinal of a Masters, my favorite Masters alongside Monaco. It feels great, I’m in good shape, I feel the crowd here, I love being in Paris, so for me it’s just trying to keep the momentum going, try to hit the shots, and hope for the best.”

Bublik now sits 13th in the Live Rankings, three places above his career high.

Bublik was then asked about his upcoming semifinal match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“I can’t make it directly to Turin, but I can make it as an alternate. He can make it directly if he wins it, so it’s going to be a big match,” he said.

“He’s fighting for the spot, I’m fighting to be an alternate, so I hope it’s going to be a good battle, a fair battle, and that we’re going to show some good tennis.”

Bublik certainly showed some ‘good tennis’ in his quarterfinal match, as he left Sky Sports commentator Colin Fleming suitably impressed.

Colin Fleming says the days of ‘circus’ Alexander Bublik matches are over

The Brit was full of praise for Bublik, who is on his hunt for a fifth title of 2025 in Paris.

“So impressive from [Alexander] Bublik, it was a brilliant match, a tight match. He’s through to the biggest semifinal of his career so far,” said Fleming.

“Bublik, his matches used to be a bit of a circus, let’s be honest. But tonight, he was rock solid mentally, and you wouldn’t often have said that. 

“Even at the end of the third, you think, is he going to start going for the crazy stuff again, but he didn’t, he just produced the goods, and a worthy winner in the end.”

Fleming proceeded to give his verdict on Saturday’s semifinal match between Bublik and Auger-Aliassime.

“Head-to-head with Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian leads it 3-2, including a win in Dubai this year, a tight three-setter,” he said.

“A big opportunity for both players in the semis and one to look forward to.”

Also speaking to Sky Sports, former doubles star Ryan Harrison shared what he noticed about Bublik immediately after winning match point.

“Unbelievable effort from Bublik, you could see what it meant for him at the end,” he said.

“He kind of glitched out of character for a minute after the match point, got a little emotional, put his hand over his face.

“I was like, are we seeing real emotion out of Bublik other than just being charismatic in a frustrated way?

“This is actually what it means to him; he couldn’t even contain himself. By the end, he gathered his composure, but for a moment there it was an emotional Bublik.”

Bublik will need to be composed when he plays the Canadian number one in the semifinals.

Auger-Aliassime and Bublik will face off for a place in the Paris Masters final on Saturday, November 1.