In the early stages of the Rotterdam Open, Alexander Bublik struggled, dropping the first set to Hubert Hurkacz before expressing visible frustration. The Kazakh player openly criticized the tournament draw, even comparing his style of play to Novak Djokovic‘s while lamenting his difficulties against Hurkacz. Despite these challenges, Bublik managed to pull through, winning the match in three sets with scores of 6-7, 7-6, and 7-5 to secure a spot in the third round. The world number 10 revealed during his on-court interview that a great deal was at stake for him in this encounter.
Alexander Bublik Contemplates Quitting the Tournament if Defeated
Bublik admitted that if he had lost the match, it might have been his last appearance at the Rotterdam Open.
“It’s only one match, I’ve never passed the second round here,”
he said.
“I thought it was going to be the last time. If I lost, it would be the last time I came to Rotterdam.”
Reflecting on his narrow victory, he added,
“But I’m really happy to get through.”
Given his previous record at the tournament, which includes more losses than wins, it is understandable why Bublik considered skipping Rotterdam if his performance did not improve.
Alexander Bublik’s Past Performances at Rotterdam
Bublik’s record at the Rotterdam Open stands at four wins and six losses. He has consistently struggled to move beyond the early rounds, with a history of both first and second-round eliminations:
- 2020 Rotterdam Open, Round 32 – Win vs Gregoire Barrere
- 2020 Rotterdam Open, Round 16 – Loss vs Andrey Rublev
- 2021 Rotterdam Open, Round 32 – Win vs Alexander Zverev
- 2021 Rotterdam Open, Round 16 – Loss vs Tommy Paul
- 2022 Rotterdam Open, Round 32 – Loss vs Andy Murray
- 2023 Rotterdam Open, Round 32 – Loss vs Stan Wawrinka
- 2024 Rotterdam Open, Round 32 – Win vs Borna Coric
- 2024 Rotterdam Open, Round 16 – Loss vs Milos Raonic
- 2025 Rotterdam Open, Round 32 – Loss vs Jakub Mensik
- 2026 Rotterdam Open, Round 32 – Win vs Hubert Hurkacz
By winning against Hurkacz this year, Bublik guarantees himself at least one more match at Rotterdam, a milestone that has eluded him on many occasions.
Bublik Reflects on a Flawed Match Filled with Luck
Discussing the quality of his match against Hurkacz, Bublik was candid about the poor tennis displayed by both players.
“It was a challenging match, very bad level, to be honest,”
he admitted.
“We played quite bad tennis today, but I guess I was lucky, very lucky, to get a couple of mistakes at the right moment from him.”
He explained that when Hurkacz was serving for the match, he essentially gave Bublik the opportunity to stay alive.
“I didn’t do much; for me, it was just about who was luckier today.”
The Mental Growth Behind Bublik’s Persistence in Rotterdam
Bublik shared insights into how his mindset has developed, especially in handling tough matches.
“I grew up a bit, in the sense that I’d rather stay home than be here,”
he said, indicating previous hesitation to fight through adversity. However, this year his attitude shifted.
“If I came here already, let me fight until the end. If I’m meant to lose, it’s ok, but I want to be at peace with myself that I gave everything, and I did today.”
This resolve helped him push through a match he might have otherwise conceded in earlier years.
Bublik’s Determined Approach to Competing at Rotterdam
Recalling his mindset during the match, Bublik emphasized his refusal to give up.
“It turned out like this, I could have lost 7-6, 6-4, I could have lost in three sets, but I just said to myself, Ok, if I’m losing, I’m losing, but I’m not coming here just to tank the first match if something goes wrong, I’d rather stay home.”
His determination to compete fully contrasts with his earlier tournament experiences where he often failed to pass the early rounds.
Upcoming Challenge for Bublik: Jan-Lennard Struff
Looking ahead, Bublik is set to face Jan-Lennard Struff from Germany in his next Rotterdam match. Despite Bublik’s much higher ranking—world number 10 compared to Struff’s 82—the matchup remains uncertain due to their past encounters. Their head-to-head record provides little clarity on who will prevail, underscoring the unpredictability of the contest. Should Bublik succeed, his opponent in the quarterfinals would be either Spain’s Jaume Munar or Russia’s Karen Khachanov, adding potential challenges to his path.
