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Though the 27-year-old is no fan of clay courts, Bublik, whose game of choice is Apex Legends has played some of his best tennis at the Caja Magica, reaching the quarterfinals in his 2021 debut and the round of 16 last year.

“It’s like indoors,” Bublik told Prakash Amritraj on Sunday. “I was lucky enough to be placed on Stadium 3 and Arantxa Court.

“Manolo Santana Stadium is like a normal outdoor clay court. I prefer to stay in the ‘indoor’ facilities. Fast, indoor, altitude, that’s everything I can ask for.”

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Playing on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium, he shook off a 6-0 second set to shock Rublev and continue his climb back up the rankings after a disappointing 2024 season.

“It’s time to get back,” joked Bublik, who has fallen from No. 17 to No. 76 in the last 12 months. “I checked how the Challengers are. They’re fine, improving.

“I kept my word that I gave here [last year],” he added sardonically. “’Today I’m No. 20, next year maybe No. 70.’ You gotta be a man of your word.”

He did break one promise to his young son, who expected Bublik to be back home much sooner.

“I promised them I’ll be back Wednesday, last Wednesday,” said the perpetually self-deprecating Bublik. “I was leaving on Monday and my son was asking when I’d be back, and I told him Wednesday night, maybe early Thursday morning. I wasn’t expecting to get a run here!”

For me, the most important thing is to enjoy, because if I don’t enjoy, I think about quitting. As long as I’m smiling, you can be convinced that I’ll still be coming here. Alexander Bublik

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His coach Artem Suprunov is on an impressive run of his own, racking up victories on the FIFA video game series.

“My coach is superior in FIFA, so any day Taylor [Fritz] wants to play, it’s impossible,” Bublik said, shouting out FIFA fan Taylor Fritz. “My coach averages 14 wins on a weekend league out of 15. Yesterday he did 13 wins out of 15, which is a good number because he plays on a big TV with an unstable connection. He’s another league. He’s a pro league, my coach.”

How does Suprunov find time to game in between coaching Bublik back up the rankings?

“Coaching me is like an hour of day’s work,” Bublik insists. “It’s paradise. You work an hour, listen to some jokes.”

His advice for Bublik’s next match against No. 22 seed Jakub Mensik (who is fresh off winning his maiden Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open), was simple enough.

“Be yourself and don’t bother,” quoted Bublik.

“For me, the most important thing is to enjoy, because if I don’t enjoy, I think about quitting. As long as I’m smiling, you can be convinced that I’ll still be coming here.”

Smiling, and perhaps a steady internet connection.