Alexander Bublik’s Round of 128 contest at the 2023 Italian Open was anything but smooth sailing. The Kazakh faced off against Spain’s Pedro Martinez and ultimately managed to secure a victory, but not without his racquet suffering the wrath of his frustrations.
First set goes smoothly for Bublik
World No. 49 Bublik required one hour and 46 minutes to defeat qualifier Martinez in straight sets – 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Wednesday, May 10. In the first set, Bublik faced three break points in his opening game. Nonetheless, he managed to close out the set without much difficulty, capitalizing on his sole break point against Pedro Martinez in the eighth game before successfully serving for the set.
Tensions rise during the second set
The second set, however, proved to be more challenging for Bublik. He trailed 1-4 against Martinez, who was able to back up his break from the fourth game with a successful hold. Bublik, known for his on-court outbursts and antics, did not hide his frustration as Martinez won two back-to-back games. He expressed his annoyance by repeatedly smashing his racquet, a move that set off the crowd.
Bublik’s recovery and interaction with young fans
Bublik managed to defuse the tension by gifting his broken racquet to a few young spectators, who fought over the souvenir before one ultimately emerged successful in keeping it. The Kazakh regained his composure and scored a crucial break in the ninth game of the second set while Martinez served to force a decider at 5-3. Bublik followed up with a successful service hold, and the match concluded on a tiebreaker in his favor.
Alexander Bublik to face Ben Shelton at the 2023 Italian Open
Having progressed to the second round of the 2023 Italian Open, Bublik is now set to face American rising star Ben Shelton. This marks Shelton’s first appearance at the Masters 1000 event, after turning pro in late 2022 and reaching the quarterfinals at the 2023 Australian Open. The Italian Open match between Bublik and Shelton is scheduled for Friday, May 12.
