Alexander Bublik says he narrowly escaped a potentially serious injury after another vehicle hit the door of his taxi as he was getting out in Shanghai. The Kazakh tennis star described the incident on social media, saying he was fortunate that he had not yet put his leg outside the car when the collision happened.
The incident was reported by Russian outlet Championat, which said Bublik posted a video about what happened on his Telegram channel before later deleting it. The world No. 22 appeared to be unharmed, but said the impact was strong enough to bend the taxi door in the opposite direction.
Bublik is currently in Shanghai preparing for his campaign at the Masters 1000 tournament, where he is the 19th seed. After receiving a first-round bye, he is scheduled to begin his singles campaign against Czech player Tomas Machac in the second round.
The timing of the incident comes with Bublik looking to put together a stronger run after an inconsistent stretch. He won only his second-round match in Shanghai last year before losing to Valentin Vacherot, who went on to produce one of the biggest surprises in Masters 1000 history by winning the title as a qualifier.
Bublik says he was lucky to escape injury
According to Championat, Bublik described the incident in a short video after leaving the taxi. He explained that a woman driving another vehicle struck the door just as he was getting out, leaving the door badly damaged.
"Guys, I have a situation. We got out of a taxi in Shanghai and a girl just smashed the door. I'm alive and well, thank God, but the door is bent in the other direction. Luckily, I didn't get my leg out. God saved me," Bublik said in the video, according to Championat. The publication added that he subsequently deleted the post.
The Kazakh's comments suggest that the result could have been very different had he stepped out of the vehicle a moment earlier. Instead, he was able to continue his preparations for the tournament, where he will have little time to ease into the competition.
Bublik has enjoyed some notable results during his career, but 2026 has so far produced only one singles title for the 29-year-old. His latest ranking places him at No. 22 in the world, while his Shanghai seeding gives him a protected route into the second round.
Alexander Bublik says he narrowly escaped being hit by a car in Shanghai. As he was about to get out of taxi another car hit the door he opened nearly ripping it off. https://t.co/ZwcxXdNIc6
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) October 7, 2026
Bublik faces a difficult Shanghai draw
His first opponent will be Machac, another player who has already shown that he can make a deep run in Shanghai. The Czech reached the semifinals at the tournament in 2024 and owns a 2-0 head-to-head record against Bublik, including a victory in Dubai in 2024. The match is scheduled for October 10.
The winner will then face either Matteo Berrettini or Brandon Nakashima, meaning Bublik could have a difficult path even before reaching the latter stages of the draw. With the Shanghai Masters featuring a $9.4 million-plus prize pool, another deep run would also be valuable at this stage of his season.
There is also an obvious reason for Bublik to be cautious about another early exit. Twelve months ago, his opening match was against Vacherot, then ranked far outside the world's top 100. Vacherot defeated him before going on to beat a series of higher-ranked players, including Novak Djokovic, and claim the biggest title of his career. ATP records list the Bublik victory as one of the key steps in Vacherot's historic Shanghai run.
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This time, Bublik arrives as the 19th seed and with a much clearer target in Shanghai. Before he can think about another deep Masters run, however, he must get through Machac and hope for a much less eventful experience away from the court.
For now, the most important outcome from his latest Shanghai incident is that Bublik was able to walk away without an injury. The damaged taxi door may have been the biggest reminder of how narrowly the situation could have gone the other way.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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