Bagel crushed inventory under the whistle of the stands. What’s up with his nerves?
Tennis player Alexander Bublik has long been associated not with success on the court, but with crazy performances during his matches. Obscene tirades, swearing with coaches and fans, loud analysis of the opponents’ game right during the meeting – all this became Alexander’s signature style.
Poor physical shape and nervous condition due to a long series of defeats again led the player to a breakdown. The Russian-born tennis player has vented his anger over his mediocre inventory play.
Three broken rackets in a minute pulls on a world record.
“I hate tennis”
Bublik was born in Russia, but at the age of 19 he passed under the flag of Kazakhstan. It was in this status that he won his only ATP tournament and rose to a record 30th place in the ranking. However, lately things have not been going well for the player. He approached the defense of the title in Montpellier on a series of eight defeats.
Bagel has an established reputation as a freak in the world of tennis. His level of play is highly dependent on his emotional state. The player’s scandalous tirades, uttered during unsuccessfully developing matches, were scattered many times into quotes for news headlines. He even admitted to disliking the game.
— I hate tennis with all my heart, I hate every day when I have to play. I play only for the money, while I have not earned enough. I like to hit the ball, but playing every day with new opponents is unbearable for me. And when you lose, you still need to answer questions from journalists. Why did you lose? So go and play on the court yourself, since you are so smart and you think you can do better than me,” Bublik told L’Equipe after another performance on the court in 2021.
Breakdown in Montreal
Now the position of the player in the ATP tour is not too strong, but he still received the sixth seed in Montpellier. In the first round, Bublik had to play against Gregoire Barrera, who occupies the 75th line in the ATP rankings. The Frenchman got in good shape ahead of this tournament, winning the home Challenger. And among the experts, he was considered a small favorite.
In the first game, Bublik lost to his opponent – 4:6, having failed in the draws on the second serve. The next set was also hard for Alexander. The resistance of the uncompromising Frenchman was broken only after a long tie-break, which lasted 26 draws.
But the main problems of the tennis player began in the decisive game. Bagel made eight double faults. In the end, every point was given to Alexander with great difficulty. As a result, it again came to a tie-break, and there was no special struggle here. Six draws in a row left for Barrera.
After that, Bagel suffered again. First, he shattered the racket he was playing with, and then broke two more that were near the resting place. It took the tennis player only 13 strokes to smash the expensive equipment into dust. All this action took place under the surprised sighs of the fans and the whistle.
Emotional release helped a tennis player from Kazakhstan a little. He left behind three draws, but the next point went to the Frenchman, and with it the victory in the match.
Career in Kazakhstan is in doubt
Regular antics and recent failures can cost Alexander dearly. Bublik was already heavily criticized after losing in Davis Cup qualification to two Chilean tennis players from the ATP second hundred. Fans demanded that the player no longer be called up to the national team and accused of lack of will.
“Kazakhstan should ban you,” wrote a user with the nickname rubentavares.
– Start to respect at least a little bit the coaching staff that puts effort into you, as well as the fans who support you. Start respecting them with at least a serious attitude to tennis, and not just come and pick up the check, – danya_pul77 urged to play more seriously.
“You are a disgrace to the country and the family,” bettinggenious assessed the game against the Chilean national team.
“Look how another player gives all his strength for the country, and learn from it,” saf_teh pointed to the success of the Chileans.
What happened in Montpellier is unlikely to add fan love to Bagel. It is possible that the best tennis player in the country will no longer be called to the national team of Kazakhstan, given his emotional instability and regular scandalous antics on the court.
