Alexander Bublik won’t change ‘his path’ after biggest win of career at Roland Garros

PARIS, France — Alexander Bublik was in tears after securing the biggest win of his career on Monday afternoon at Roland Garros.

The world No. 62 stunned Jack Draper, the No. 5 seed, after rallying from a set down, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to secure his biggest win-by-ranking in a completed match since 2022. (He defeated No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the 2022 Montpelier final, and also recorded a win over No. 5 Andrey Rublev in 2024 Dubai via default.)

The win sent 27-year-old into the first major quarterfinal of his career, and he was visibly emotional as he collapsed to the ground in celebration.

Read More: A Las Vegas road trip helped burnt out Alexander Bublik get back on track

Bublik held back tears as he received a standing ovation from the fans on Court Suzanne-Lenglen—as they showed appreciation for one of the more colorful personalities of the sport.

“You know, sometimes in life there is only one chance, and I had a feeling like that was mine,” Bublik said. “I couldn’t let it slip. So, standing here, this is the best moment of my life. Period.”

Ranked as high as No. 17 last year, Bublik has always marched to the beat of his own drum. He’s never been one to spend hours and hours on the practice court, or play through injuries, or put himself through the grind of lower-level tournaments on the other side of the world.

After tumbling down the rankings earlier this year—he fell as low as No. 82 after Indian Wells—he didn’t go straight to the practice courts. He hit up the casinos in Las Vegas instead, and then arrived in Phoenix (ATP Challenger) mentally refreshed as he charged into the final.

Those ups and downs are all a part of the Bublik Tennis Experience, and the No. 1 Kazakh is not about to change things—as he candidly revealed in our Tennis.com Quote du Jour:

I still do the exact minimum and maximum at the same time in order to be the player I am, to be in the position I am, and I will continue with this path...

Q. You have spoken about the fact you're not going to be like every other player and push yourself to the absolute limits. Does today kind of vindicate that, or does it make you hungry to push yourself further because you may get more moments like today?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: The good thing about this question is you mentioned that ‘you might get.’ Will I put my life and health on the line to have a "might"? A maybe? No.

But I will continue my path. I will work my way, because I still practice, guys! (laughing) Don't worry, I'm not hitting 30 minutes a day.

I still do the exact minimum and maximum at the same time in order to be the player I am, to be in the position I am, and I will continue with this path, because I think I prioritize tennis and life in equal ways...

For me it's a 50/50 relationship. It's not like tennis takes 90, and then it's okay. If I can't walk at the age of 40, it's okay? No, it's not.

So for me it's finding the balance. It's doing necessarily what I have to do in order to be able to compete against the top of the game, which I showcased every season I played in the past six, seven years.

But will I put my health on the line? No.

Bublik will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Roland Garros quarterfinals on Wednesday.