Tennis

Holger Rune, the 2022 Rolex Paris Masters champion, has reignited his form in the French capital, cruising past Alexander Bublik in straight sets (6-4, 6-2) in the first round.Rune, seeded 13th, has fond memories of Paris, having stunned the tennis world two years ago by defeating five Top 10 players, including Novak Djokovic, to claim the title. Despite injuries and inconsistency since then, the 21-year-old Dane is eager to replicate his success."I always enjoy playing in Paris," Rune said. "I have good memories, so I'm very blessed to be back."Rune's victory over Bublik was a testament to his growing maturity and focus. The match began evenly, but Rune seized control in the ninth game of the first set, breaking Bublik's serve after six deuces. He maintained his momentum in the second set, breaking Bublik twice to secure the victory in just 70 minutes.Rune's resurgence comes after a challenging season that saw him fall out of the Top 10 and part ways with coaches Boris Becker and Patrick Mouratoglou. However, he has reunited with former coach Lars Christensen and has shown signs of improvement in recent months."It's been a decent season," Rune said. "It's not been the best one, but I can finish it calling it a good one if I do well here in Paris."Rune's next opponent will be either lucky loser Arthur Cazaux or Basel finalist Ben Shelton. Rune has a 1-0 record against Shelton but lost to Cazaux earlier this year at the Australian Open.

Alexander Bublik's Table Tennis Encounter with a 13-Year-Old ProdigyChinese teenager Shang Juncheng wasn't the only one to outplay Alexander Bublik in Chengdu this week. The second-seeded Kazakh, who fell to Shang in the quarterfinals, also found himself on the losing end of a table tennis match against a local 13-year-old prodigy.The ATP teased the encounter on social media, asking if Bublik's underarm serve would prove useful against the youngster. However, the answer was a resounding no."It's a completely different sport," Bublik joked before the match, adding that winning even three points would be "a highlight."Bublik was impressed by the youngster's endurance and technique, particularly his ability to return serve. However, the Kazakh ultimately achieved his goal of winning three points and presented his opponent with a giant autographed tennis ball."It's tough for tennis players because we're used to big swings," Bublik explained. "Here, he's playing with a very short swing. What am I supposed to do now?"Bublik's solution? Return to full-sized tennis. He is seeded No. 8 this week at the ATP 500 China Open.

Alexander Bublik's recent on-court success in Madrid has been accompanied by his characteristically candid and humorous off-court commentary. After a three-match losing streak, Bublik has rallied twice from a set down to reach the fourth round, putting himself two sets away from his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal since 2021.Despite his current ranking of world No. 18, Bublik has a relaxed attitude towards his tennis career. "When you're a professional tennis player, Top 20, you don't need to wake up at 7," he quipped. "You can relax more in your life already."Bublik's unconventional approach extends to his coaching situation. His coach has decided to leave before the French Open, leaving Bublik to fend for himself on his least favorite surface. "My coach is more relaxed than me," Bublik said. "He told me today, 'Man, I have to go home.'"Despite his lack of a coach, Bublik remains confident in his abilities. "With me, you never know what's going to happen," he said. "I won't be sitting here, telling you, crushing my chest and saying I'll be Top 10 in two weeks, that I'm the best in the world."Bublik's honesty and self-awareness have endeared him to fans. He surprised everyone by reaching the Roland Garros men's doubles final in 2021 and has won two titles in 2023.While others may set lofty goals, Bublik prefers to focus on enjoying the game. "The most important thing is to be happy and enjoy what I do," he said. "The ranking will come up. If I'm destined to be in the Top 10, I will be one day. If not, it doesn't really matter for me; I have other things to do."Bublik's unique perspective and entertaining personality have made him a fan favorite. His upcoming match against Daniil Medvedev promises to be another entertaining chapter in his tennis journey.

Andrey Rublev Defaults in Dubai Semifinal After Confrontation with Line JudgeAndrey Rublev's Dubai Championships campaign came to an abrupt end on Friday when he was defaulted from his semifinal match against Alexander Bublik for unsportsmanlike conduct. The incident occurred in the deciding set with Bublik leading 6-5.Rublev, the second seed and world No. 5, erupted after Bublik won a point. He immediately pointed to the baseline, approached the line judge, and shouted in his face. ATP supervisor Roland Herfel intervened, accompanied by a Russian speaker who claimed Rublev had sworn in his native language.Rublev denied the accusation, insisting he had spoken in English. However, umpire Miriam Bley defaulted him for unsportsmanlike conduct. Bublik, the seventh seed, expressed his willingness to continue the match but ultimately won by default, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-5.The incident overshadowed a thrilling encounter that had seen both players display their exceptional skills. Rublev had won the first set in a tiebreaker, while Bublik had fought back to take the second set. The third set was evenly poised until Rublev's outburst.Rublev's default marked a disappointing end to his Dubai campaign. He had won the tournament in 2022 but lost to Daniil Medvedev in last year's final. Bublik, on the other hand, advanced to the final, where he will face the winner of the other semifinal between Medvedev and Ugo Humbert.The big-serving Bublik is seeking his fifth singles title of his career. He recently won the Open Sud de France in Montpellier. His victory over Rublev will give him confidence as he aims to add another trophy to his collection.