For Alexander Bublik, Winning European Open Title Means The World To Him

Alexander Bublik, ATP Tour, European Open, Antwerp
Alexander Bublik (photo: Tennium/Belga)

ANTWERP/WASHINGTON, October 21, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

When Alexander Bublik arrived in Antwerp last week to make his debut in the ATP 250 European Open indoor event in the Flemish capital of Belgium, he had lost in the opening round of all five tournaments he had played in since his run to the fourth round of the Wimbledon championships in early July. So, perhaps, Bublik can be forgiven for secluding himself all week long in his hotel room, playing video games with his coach in his free time, instead of getting out to explore the port city whose history dates back to the Middle Ages.

When the No. 3 seed Bublik did come out of seclusion, he played marvelous tennis all week long inside Lotto Arena, forsaking his usual routine of underarm serves and other slick slight-of-hand trick shots in order to play serious tennis. Guess what? It rewarded him handsomely.

On Sunday afternoon, before a capacity crowd of 5,500, the 26-year-old Russian-born Bublik, who now represents Kazakhstan, put on a serving clinic against his opponent, 19-year-old Arthur Fils of France. By the end of their 75-minute final, the 36th-ranked Bublik had won his third career ATP Tour singles title with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over the 38th-ranked No. 4 seed Fils.

Bublik fired 11 aces — a few of them on impressive, 130-mile per hour second serves — won 97 percent (36 of 37) first-serve points, and saved all three break points he faced from the rising French teenage star. He overcame 11 double faults by hitting 28 winners, breaking Fils twice in three tries, and outpointed his opponent 66-53.

“I was pretty much serving all match,” Bublik told Sabine Appelmans during his on-court interview before the trophy ceremony. “I told Arthur I was very lucky to beat him in a final before he becomes the next big thing. That was the only option I had, and I executed it well.”

Bublik closed out the 33-minute opening set with back-to-back aces up the middle — his sixth and seventh — as he won 100 percent (15 of 15) of his first-serve points. He took control after breaking Fils’ serve in the fifth game.

Then, after breaking Fils to open the second set, the young Frenchman slammed his racquet into the ground in frustration. He simply could not find a way to penetrate his opponent’s defense. Next, Bublik consolidated the break for a 2-0 lead and maintained the pressure during Fils’ subsequent service games.

Although Bublik faced a pair of break points in the sixth game, at 15-40 and 30-40, he erased both of them and held serve during the 12-point game to maintain a break lead at 4-2. Soon, with Bublik ahead 5-3, it was up to Fils to be able to muster everything he could to hold serve and find a way to break back. It wasn’t meant to be. Bublik gained a championship point at 30-40 with a lunging cross-court winner near the net to finish a crafty six-shot rally, but Fils erased it with a service winner and held after Bublik netted a return while attempting to hit a backhand drop shot.

Finally, serving for the match, Bublik quickly gained his second championship point at 40-15 by covering the court so impressively, but it was erased when he committed his 11th double fault. However, Bublik won on his third attempt with a superlative ace out wide to win his third career ATP Tour title. Bublik garnered 136 of 148 points behind his first serve across his journey to the Antwerp crown.

Both competitors shared a friendly embrace at the net, one that was full of smiles, as Bublik was rewarded with his third career ATP title and second one this year.

“Honestly, when I won my second title, I told my coach, ‘Maybe that’s it. Maybe I will never win one more,'” Bublik said. “It’s the greatest feeling ever. Being here and winning another title means the world for me.”

Soon after, during the trophy ceremony, Bublik praised Fils in his remarks. He said: “I’m lucky to beat him in the final before he becomes the next big thing.” Then, turning to Fils, he continued: “The only way to beat you is to serve lots of aces. I did very well. I wish you a lot of luck. You’ve worked hard, you’re so young. I know you feel right now — I lost [six] of those. I wish you a lot of titles and a great job to your team.”

Come Monday, Bublik will rise six spots to No. 30 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings — five spots below his career high — following his title run in Antwerp after beating Gregoire Barrere, qualifiers Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Maximilian Marterer and Fils. Meanwhile, Fils remains in the thick of the Race To Jeddah, currently in fifth place, for next month’s year-ending Next Gen ATP Finals.

Tsitsipas brothers win first ATP Tour doubles title together

Brothers Stefanos and Petros Tsitsipas won their first ATP Tour doubles title together at the European Open Sunday afternoon. The unseeded Greek duo dubbed Tsitsibros on social media defeated Ariel Behar of Uruguay and Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 10-8 in an hour and 35 minutes.

The Tsitsipas brothers, who own an 11-24 tour-level record, first teamed up in 2016 in an F10 event at Santa Margherita Di Pula, Italy, and made their first tour-level appearance in 2019 at Marseille. Before this week, their best finish in 23 tour-level appearances was reaching the quarterfinals twice, in 2021 at Rotterdam and in 2022 at Stuttgart.

After advancing to the title match by saving two match points during their Saturday semifinal victory over Romain Arneodo and Tristan-Samuel Weissborn, the Tsitsipas brothers rallied from a set down and pulled out the title triumph after trailing 5-2 in the match tie-break against Behar (ranked 55th) and Pavlasek (ranked 60th). They won  73 percent of their first-serve points, broke their opponents three times in six opportunities and finished ahead on points 74-66.

“It’s a dream come true to win with my brother by my side,” Petros Tsitsipas said during his victory news conference. Turning to his older brother, he continued: “I’d like to thank you for helping me this week. I think you did a amazing job. I’m proud of us for winning matches this week that we used struggle with in the past. I think we’re more confident on the court.”

Added Stefanos Tsitsipas: “I am extremely proud of what we accomplished. It hasn’t been easy in the past. We have struggled together. We always came so close to good teams. We always had problems gaining deeper runs in tournaments. That first taste of winning a trophy in [an ATP] 250 level is fascinating. … Nothing compares to doing it with your brother and feeling the emotions with someone directly related to your family. It’s a great way to end the tournament.”

Stefanos and Petros Tsitsipas

Petros and Stefanos Tsitsipas (photo: Tennium/Belga)

Petros Tsitsipas, ranked No. 110, will move into the Top 100 on Monday at No. 81. He was competing in his first tour-level final.

Meanwhile, older brother Stefanos now has won two doubles trophies after winning at Acapulco with Feliciano Lopez last year. The two plan to continue to play doubles in tournaments together on tour and their goal is to be able to represent Greece in next year’s Paris Olympic Games.

Around the European Open

Before the start of the singles final, European Open tournament director Dick Norman and Kristoff Puelinckx, CEO of tournament owner Tennium, gave their state of the tournament remarks.

“The interest in tickets was huge, especially for the final days of the tournament,” said Norman. “We were really overwhelmed by last-minute requests for tickets and even placed an extra 300 seats in Lotto Arena. We rounded the mark of 30,000 spectators this year, who were able to enjoy top-notch tennis this week. We witnessed some truly fantastic tennis matches and the atmosphere this week in the Lotto Arena was truly incredible at times.”

Added Puelinckx: “The tournament is growing year after year in all area, which is a nice observation. But of course, there is work to be done. We have to build on the great potential step by step. We have very loyal partners to make this happen: our sponsors, the government and in particular, the City of Antwerp, our staff, our fans, the players. Together with them, we are already working towards the 2024 edition.”

By the numbers

Alexander Bublik is the only Kazakh player in the Open Era to win multiple titles, lifting trophies in 2022 at Montpellier and earlier this season at Halle before winning his third at Antwerp on Sunday.

“Quotable …”

“I’ve watched them, I’m aware of [their success], of what they do and how they do it and why they are so good. I’ve seen both of them play. They both are very solid players; they can serve big. They can play aggressively from the baseline. They are still in the process of getting better and improving. I was once on their place. They have potential in the game.”

— World No. 7 and top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, in press earlier in the tournament, commenting on the success this week of Frenchmen Arthur Fils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

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