Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik claimed the Halle Open title on Sunday with a stunning 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Daniil Medvedev, marking his first-ever win against the Russian and continuing a remarkable resurgence in form.
Bublik had lost all six of his previous matches against the former world No. 1, managing to win just one set across those encounters. But in the Halle final, he delivered a masterclass in grass-court tennis to snap that losing streak and lift the trophy.
Medvedev, who was seeded third, has now suffered defeat in each of his last six ATP Tour-level finals, a worrying trend for the former US Open champion.
Known for his flamboyant shot-making, Bublik displayed a composed and mature performance throughout the final. His confidence was evident after his earlier win over world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the round of 16, a turning point in a challenging year.
The 27-year-old Kazakh broke Medvedev in the eighth game of the opening set and then held serve with ease, closing out the set during a run of 12 consecutive points.
In the second set, Medvedev earned a set point with Bublik serving at 4-5, but Bublik fended it off with a perfectly executed drop shot from deep behind the baseline. Medvedev took a 4-1 lead in the ensuing tiebreak, but Bublik mounted a spirited comeback to secure the title repeating his championship run in Halle from 2023.
“I’ve had such difficult months since last year’s Wimbledon, all the way until this summer,” Bublik reflected after his win. “I was close to quitting the sport because I wasn’t enjoying it anymore.”
“And now, this is happening quarterfinals at the French Open, winning here in Halle. I have no words.”
On finally defeating Medvedev, Bublik added: “I’ve never beaten Daniil before. He’s such a difficult player for someone with my style. But today, everything just clicked — mentally and physically.”
With the win, Bublik is projected to rise to world No. 30 in Monday’s ATP rankings, a significant leap from being outside the top 75 just a month ago.
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