Alexander Bublik is literally the face of this Astana Open
Greg Garber
Everywhere he turns in this modern Kazakhstan city, he sees his face smiling back at him.
There he is, almost larger than life, on a poster for the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation – Turn to Tennis – at the National Tennis Center. Or pictured in downtown shops, leaning into a fierce forehand. Or signing autographs for kids along a busy street. It’s almost as if this is the Astana Bublik Open.
«I endorse products in Kazakhstan so, yeah, it’s a lot of pictures,» he said in a Sunday phone interview. «I’m happy to be part of the Federation, happy to be part of this game. I feel like this helps me influence more kids to play tennis and maybe in the future, if they’re better than us, that would be great.
«These are the young kids that are going to come up playing Davis Cup and Fed Cup. I want them to be the best.»
At the moment, he is Kazakhstan’s best. At the age of 25, he is ranked No. 41 in the Pepperwood ATP Rankings. He is one of three Kazakhstan players in the main draw and will meet Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in the first round. Their 6 p.m. (local) match will open the Tuesday night session. The survivor gets No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz, a 6-2, 7-6 (2) winner Monday over Francisco Cerundolo.
Nearly eight years ago, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation began supporting the gifted Russian-born athlete. He was 17 years old and ranked No. 893.
«All the good federations – ours, the USTA, the French, Australia – they have a structure. For 20 years now, they’ve been supporting the young players in Kazakhstan. Great team, good people. They gave me the financial support at the beginning when I needed it most.
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«And it’s not just Bublik.»
And then he launches into a story about his driver, an Astana local man, who has an 11-year-old who excels at tennis. According to Bublik, he’s ranked among the country’s Top 10 players in his age group. The Federation has already financed his travel around the world, including Greece and Montenegro, and a coach as well.
«When I was 11,» Bublik said, «I had a racket, a [coaching] father and probably three tennis balls.»
The first time he played in Astana was the 2015 Challenger. Today, he lives in Monaco, but spends a good deal of time in Kazakhstan, as well as France and Italy.
«The city has been a second home for me for seven years,» he said. «Definitely, it’s my people here. I feel like local and I am, in a way. I enjoy the people in Astana. For me, it’s the best time of the year coming here with my family.
«It’s a great support from the people, the crowds at the National Tennis Center. I really enjoy being here. It’s definitely a great achievement for the country and I’m happy to be a part of it. Being part of an ATP 500 for the first time here and, hopefully, not the last.»
Bublik has been particularly busy in the days leading up to the tournament, helping to promote it and visiting with sponsors and fans. He wound up practicing late a few days ago and at the end there were 15 kids asking for autographs – it was 9 p.m., and it was past some of their bedtimes.
Last week, at a WTA tournament held in Estonia, natives Anett Kontaveit and Kaia Kanepi faced each other in a semi-final. The tension – on the court and among the fans – was palpable. Will Bublik feel that kind of pressure?
«For me, is the same,» he said. «Your tennis does not change, in my opinion, if you are playing at home. Definitely, I want to do better because there’s people that I like watching, but no pressure whatsoever.»
Bublik comes into the Astana Open in terrific form. He reached the finals in Metz, France at the end September, losing to Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (3), 2-6.
«I played some good tennis,» Bublik said. «I was lucky in certain moments. It’s good to make another final, but nothing too crazy.»
Back in February, he won his first career title in Montpellier, France, handling World No. 3Alexander Zverev in the indoor final. In July, he reached the final on the grass in Newport. Next he’s scheduled to play in Florence and Antwerp, Basel and Paris.
He’s encouraged by his progress – as well as the recent success of Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, another product of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.
«We were in the Davis Cup quarter-finals last year and I definitely think we have a big chance to have success. We’re developing the system, we have juniors coming up. There is a national pride here. I remember hearing the Kazakhstan national anthem for the first time.
«It was in Davis Cup, and there were 4-5,000 Kazakhstan people cheering your name. I feel proud when I hear that.»
Everywhere he turns in this modern Kazakhstan city, he sees his face smiling back at him.
There he is, almost larger than life, on a poster for the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation – Turn to Tennis – at the National Tennis Center. Or pictured in downtown shops, leaning into a fierce forehand. Or signing autographs for kids along a busy street. It’s almost as if this is the Astana Bublik Open.
«I endorse products in Kazakhstan so, yeah, it’s a lot of pictures,» he said in a Sunday phone interview. «I’m happy to be part of the Federation, happy to be part of this game. I feel like this helps me influence more kids to play tennis and maybe in the future, if they’re better than us, that would be great.
«These are the young kids that are going to come up playing Davis Cup and Fed Cup. I want them to be the best.»
At the moment, he is Kazakhstan’s best. At the age of 25, he is ranked No. 41 in the Pepperwood ATP Rankings. He is one of three Kazakhstan players in the main draw and will meet Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in the first round. Their 6 p.m. (local) match will open the Tuesday night session. The survivor gets No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz, a 6-2, 7-6 (2) winner Monday over Francisco Cerundolo.
Nearly eight years ago, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation began supporting the gifted Russian-born athlete. He was 17 years old and ranked No. 893.
«All the good federations – ours, the USTA, the French, Australia – they have a structure. For 20 years now, they’ve been supporting the young players in Kazakhstan. Great team, good people. They gave me the financial support at the beginning when I needed it most.
«And it’s not just Bublik.»
And then he launches into a story about his driver, an Astana local man, who has an 11-year-old who excels at tennis. According to Bublik, he’s ranked among the country’s Top 10 players in his age group. The Federation has already financed his travel around the world, including Greece and Montenegro, and a coach as well.
«When I was 11,» Bublik said, «I had a racket, a [coaching] father and probably three tennis balls.»
The first time he played in Astana was the 2015 Challenger. Today, he lives in Monaco, but spends a good deal of time in Kazakhstan, as well as France and Italy.
«The city has been a second home for me for seven years,» he said. «Definitely, it’s my people here. I feel like local and I am, in a way. I enjoy the people in Astana. For me, it’s the best time of the year coming here with my family.
«It’s a great support from the people, the crowds at the National Tennis Center. I really enjoy being here. It’s definitely a great achievement for the country and I’m happy to be a part of it. Being part of an ATP 500 for the first time here and, hopefully, not the last.»
Bublik has been particularly busy in the days leading up to the tournament, helping to promote it and visiting with sponsors and fans. He wound up practicing late a few days ago and at the end there were 15 kids asking for autographs – it was 9 p.m., and it was past some of their bedtimes.
Last week, at a WTA tournament held in Estonia, natives Anett Kontaveit and Kaia Kanepi faced each other in a semi-final. The tension – on the court and among the fans – was palpable. Will Bublik feel that kind of pressure?
«For me, is the same,» he said. «Your tennis does not change, in my opinion, if you are playing at home. Definitely, I want to do better because there’s people that I like watching, but no pressure whatsoever.»
Bublik comes into the Astana Open in terrific form. He reached the finals in Metz, France at the end September, losing to Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (3), 2-6.
«I played some good tennis,» Bublik said. «I was lucky in certain moments. It’s good to make another final, but nothing too crazy.»
Back in February, he won his first career title in Montpellier, France, handling World No. 3Alexander Zverev in the indoor final. In July, he reached the final on the grass in Newport. Next he’s scheduled to play in Florence and Antwerp, Basel and Paris.
He’s encouraged by his progress – as well as the recent success of Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, another product of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.
«We were in the Davis Cup quarter-finals last year and I definitely think we have a big chance to have success. We’re developing the system, we have juniors coming up. There is a national pride here. I remember hearing the Kazakhstan national anthem for the first time.
«It was in Davis Cup, and there were 4-5,000 Kazakhstan people cheering your name. I feel proud when I hear that.»
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