Jannik Sinner seemed to be shocked after the defeat in the competition with Carlos Alcaraz in the final of Roland Garros. The world's No. 1 player has just lost to Alexander Bublik in the second round of Halle Open.
Bublik's shocking victory
Alexander Bublik has just created the biggest victory in his career at Halle Open. The Kazakhstan player was shocked to defeat Jannik Sinner, the world's No. 1 player and the reigning championship with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to win tickets to the quarter-finals.
After the battle, Bublik shared: “We are players and always want to win every match, but this is a special match. I have never defeated the world's No. 1 player. This is a memorable milestone.”
Previously, Bublik had lost to Sinner in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros earlier this month, but this time the Kazakhstan player reclaimed the debt spectacularly on the ATP 500 pitch.
Bublik shared the secret to defeating Sinner: “I focus on serve, try to take advantage of the opportunity, try to bring the ball back as much as possible. He is an extraordinary player and I don't think I can defeat him. But I have a few opportunities and take good use of it. I have better serve than Roland Garros, more persistent and try to force him in hard situations, and to work hard and to work.”
Sinner has won 66 consecutive matches against the opponents outside the top 20 since August 2023. But in the 6th encounter between the two players (Sinner 4-2 earlier), the Italian tennis player could not help with the intense attack from Bublik. This is also the first time since the Montreal tournament last year, Sinner did not reach a final.
Sinner has not shocked after Roland Garros
Sinner was crowned on the pitch at Halle last year. However, he entered the tournament with the mood that had not fully recovered after a 5 -hour defeat that lasted 29 minutes ago Carlos Alcaraz in the final of Roland Garros. Sinner will continue to prepare for Wimbledon, where he was in the semi -finals in 2023.
In the opening match in Halle, Sinner surpassed Yannick Hanfmann easily and played firmly in the first set to meet Bublik. He did not face any Break Point and only takes 41 minutes to gain advantage. However, the turning point at the beginning of Set 2 when Bublik successfully saved 3 break-point right at the first serve game, then broke the game at an important time when Sinner beat Forehand broken.
Bublik records up to 20 Winner in set 2 to balance the score, and continue to play in the 3 decision set. The 27-year-old player once again broke Sinner's serve after a Passing Forehand fire, then ended the match with a Smash at the first Match-point opportunity.
Bublik was crowned in Halle in 2023, the biggest title of Kazakhstan career. And now, Bublik is aiming at the fifth ATP championship. In the quarterfinals, he will confront the seed No. 7 Tomas Machac, the Czech player who has just defeated Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 6-3.