MONTPELLIER/WASHINGTON, January 31, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
“Bonsoir mesdames, messieurs, je suis à la maison,” Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan greeted the French fans, who stayed to see him defeat Germany’s Dominik Koepfer at the ATP 250-series Open Occitanie in Montpellier, France Wednesday night. The 7,500-seat Sud de France Arena has become the defending champion Bublik’s home away from home.
In Bublik’s 70-minute 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 118 Koepfer, the No. 4 seed hit 10 aces and recorded 20 overall winners. Also, he won 76 percent of his first-serve points and broke Koepfer’s serve four times en route to collecting his first win of the 2025 season after consecutive first round losses in Adelaide and Melbourne to Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia and Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, respectively.
“It’s been a tough couple of months for me, so getting any kind of win is important,” Bublik said during his on-court interview with Marc Maury. “Especially here where I have had the most success in my career.”
Not home, but it sure feels like it!
The two-time champ Bublik is into the QFs, getting past Koepfer in straight sets, 6-4 6-2 @OpenOccitanie | #openoccitanie pic.twitter.com/11s1dSMD27
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 29, 2025
The 27-year-old Russian-born Bublik, who stands 6-feet-5-inches tall, looks like an imposing figure on the tennis court because of his height and capability of hitting powerful first serves. However, deep down, the Kazakhstani player is warm and friendly – and knows how to charm a crowd with his unpredictable and capricious style of play. Bublik’s game features underarm serves and tweeners.
After defeating Koepfer, Bublik added: “I tried to stay composed, stay focused and show my skill set, and it worked today. Let’s hope it works throughout the entire tournament.”
Currently ranked 39th, Bublik reached a career high No. 17 last May after becoming the first ATP Tour champion (since the organization was established in 1990) to come back from a set down in every match en route to winning his fourth career title in Montpellier. In the final, he defeated Borna Coric of Croatia, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
Rewinding to 2024 when Bublik captured his second title in Montpellier
#NittoATPFlashback | #partner pic.twitter.com/pyRK2FfUl4— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 30, 2025
Two of Bublik’s four ATP Tour singles titles have come in southern France. He also won Montpellier in 2022, defeating current World No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany in final. So, coming to play Montpellier is like a homecoming for him. After all, he and his wife Tatiyana, and their son, Vasily, born in 2022, reside in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, about four hours east of Montpellier by automobile on the A54.
“I’ve grown up a bit,” Bublik admitted. “I’m not 20 years-old anymore, I’m a father now. I try to play tennis, I try to enjoy the game and bring it [my personality] out here.”
Friday evening, in the last match of the day, Bublik will face 102nd-ranked qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States in the quarterfinal round in an effort to keep his title defense alive – and to be the first since France’s Richard Gasquet in 2015-16 to successfully defend the Montpellier crown.
Grab your
It’s showtime in Montpellier @OpenOccitanie | #openoccitanie pic.twitter.com/LWIbGrpMg9
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 29, 2025
Going into the quarterfinals, Bublik’s career win-loss record stands at 153-152, including 11-2 in Montpellier. Last year, in all competitions, Bublik finished 25-24. One of his most memorable matches came during a rematch against Coric in the opening round at Rotterdam, soon after Montpellier. A night person by nature, Bublik was given an 11 a.m starting time by the tournament director. He almost decided to phone in the result rather than show up to play. After all, Bublik loves to sleep in.
Instead, Bublik went out and beat Coric, 6-3, 6-4, then described his experience with a comedic spin to it all.
“Winning at 11 a.m. I mean, I haven’t done this in the past three years!” Bublik quipped at the time during his on-court interview, displaying his wit and repartee that is part stand-up comedian, part philosopher. His irreverent style, both on and off the court, comes across as a breath of fresh air.
Asked during his on-court interview if there was a different energy facing Coric in the first round than in the final, Bublik admitted: “The game plan was to just wake up. … Honestly, there was no game plan whatsoever. I was barely warming up. I had no power. For me, it was just to see if I could play at eleven o’clock, put the balls in the court. It worked so I’m really happy.”
Quand tu sais que l’Open Occitanie approche à grands pas pic.twitter.com/0r7Fc7nsBy
— Open Occitanie (@OpenOccitanie) December 30, 2024
As Bublik recalled, it was the earliest match he had played in three years. In the next round, he promptly lost to Milos Raonic of Canada 6-4, 6-4. The early start against Coric threw him off for the remainder of the tournament.
“I had no expectations when I saw the schedule. … Last time I had to wake up at 7:30 a.m. was in October [2023]. Before 10, you [usually] won’t see me awake. I texted my coach and said ‘maybe we should just pull out.’”
Lesson learned, maybe. Although, for Bublik, getting the late-evening starting assignments in Montpellier, such as what he has enjoyed so far, could be the reason – and his secret – to his success in this early-season indoor hard-court event.
Stay tuned.
BUBLIK ROI DE MONTPELLIER
Déjà vainqueur à Montpellier en 2022, le Kazakhstanais a récidivé en prenant le meilleur sur le Croate Borna Coric (5-7, 6-2, 6-3) pic.twitter.com/Grp2ulNlDN
— Open Occitanie (@OpenOccitanie) February 4, 2024
