Alexander Bublik has expressed rather personal considerations on some current issues in the ATP Tour.
In an interview with the Russian media Match TV, the Kazakh tennis player talked about the recent retirements of Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal with strong words that have certainly caused discussion.
On the Scot, the Kazakh admitted: “He tries to return to what is no longer there. I think it’s a problem, I hope so, but it doesn’t bother me. Maybe the same thing can happen to me too. At 36 I could play the Challenger in Bangkok, but I still hope to come out of it with a clear conscience and soul,” he said.
The 27-year-old then made it clear, with his words, that time really does pass for everyone, even for the great champions.
“It’s a shame, more than a circus. They achieved everything, we were watching them with our mouths open in the locker room and then, one of them is bald and old. He is not the same and will never be the same again.
It is clear that I am not Nadal, but I would have left at the best time. My legacy will be much smaller, if you can call it that. What happened with Murray and Nadal is a circus, I can’t call it anything else,” added the Kazakh.
Bublik will return to the court in Adelaide for his absolute debut in the new season. Opening first round match with Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic to immediately gain confidence with victory. The first goal of the season will be the Australian Open, where he will try to obtain a positive and important result.
We recall Rafa retired at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga after the last two years in which he suffered very harsh physical troubles. Nadal closed his career with 22 Grand Slam titles, of which – of course – 14 titles at the French Open. Murray retired at Paris Olympics and, from the Australian Open 2025, he will be the new coach of Novak Djokovic. The Scot closed his career after 3 Slam titles (among which 2 Wimbledon Championships) and two gold medals at the Olympic Games.
Tennis World USA