Alexander Bublik adds third career ATP title as Arthur Fils unable to answer Ben Shelton's call at European Open Antwerp
ATPSunday, 22 October 2023 at 20:20
Ben Shelton told Arthur Fils to show him something in his final of the European Open in Antwerp, but in truth it was Alexander Bublik who showed out by winning his third career title.
It was a rampant 6-4, 6-4 success for the Kazakh who quickly dispatched of the French rising star who couldn't seal a maiden ATP title and join Shelton who won the Japan Open earlier on Sunday.
Unpredictable as ever, Bublik won Halle earlier on in the season and actually lifted the Halle curse which had stood for a long time by competing well at Wimbledon.
But it seemed like the curse had been on delay with Bublik not winning a single match between Wimbledon and Antwerp, but in typical tennis fashion, he is now on a four match winning run.
He will rise six spots back into the top 30 on Monday as a result of winning the title sealing a break in each set and saving all three chances off the racquet of Fils to improve to 3-6 in ATP Tour Finals.
“I was pretty much serving all match,” said Bublik in his on-court interview. “I told Arthur I was very lucky to beat him in a final before he becomes the next big thing. That was the only option I had, and I executed it well.”
“Honestly, when we won the second title, I [said to my coach], ‘Maybe that’s it, maybe we will never win another one’,” joked Bublik. “It was the greatest feeling ever, so being here again, winning another title, it means the world to me.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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