By Alberto Amalfi | Sunday, June 25, 2023
Alexander Bublik blasted 21 aces toppling third-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, to win his second career title on the grass of Halle.
Photo credit: Mathias Schulz/Terra Wortmann Open
Playing for his first grass-court title, Alexander Bublik was in no mood for the waiting game.
One of tennis' top risk takers went big and reaped the rewards for his efforts.
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A bold Bublik blasted 21 aces upsetting third-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, to collect his second career title on the grass of Halle.
Swinging freely, Bublik overcome 12 double faults winning 41 of 45 first-serve points and saving four of the five break points he faced.
On championship point, Bublik banged his 21st ace out wide to seal this title in style.
The world No. 48, who once cited "partying" as his guilty pleasure, celebrated his momentous championship with a kiss for his wife and baby Bublik sitting court side.
The title triumph completes a remarkable reversal of fortune for Bublik, who suffered eight opening-round losses in his first 11 tournaments this year and had failed to survive the first round in 10 tournaments when he arrived in Halle last week.
Those severe struggles early this season makes Bublik's brilliant title run even more satisfying today.
“It really means the world to me,” said Bublik. “I’ve been struggling for half a year and now having this a reward, I don’t take it for granted.
"It was hard work. I was walking through the little hall of fame here before entering the court for the very first time against Struff, and I was like ‘Wow, the different names, a lot of guys I’m familiar with. That would be nice maybe to have it one day’.
“But I could not even imagine that I would win this tournament, and I’m really, really happy.”
Armed with an unimpressive 1-6 career finals record, Bublik wasted no time breaking to start and bursting out to a 4-1 lead en route to the opening set.
The seventh-ranked Rublev, who won the Monte-Carlo Masters on red clay in April, broke for a 4-2 second-set lead before serving out the set to force a decider.
Just as he'd done in the first set, Bublik broke early again establishing a 4-1 lead in the decider before serving out his second career title.