Hong Kong Open | New ground broken for Alexander Bublik as he climbs into top 10 after accomplished title triumph over Lorenzo Musetti

Alexander Bublik is now officially a top 10 player after dealing more misery to Lorenzo Musetti in the Hong Kong Open final, prevailing 7-6 (2), 6-3.

This is another representation of the incredible form the Kazakh is in. After winning four titles in 2025 - only behind Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on the ATP Tour, he is looking to continue this momentum into 2026. This is being displayed with an incredible run in eastern Asia.

For Musetti, it is yet another final defeat has his quest for a first ATP title since October 2022 continues. The consolation is that he is now up to a new career-high of world number five ahead of the Australian Open, but it is not a strong enough antidote to abolish the pain of another derelict defeat in a final.

It was always going to be a high quality final, with the number one and two seed looking strong. Musetti had to come through a very tricky semi-final against Andrey Rublev, getting him prepared for oncoming storm that would be the talented Bublik.

The first eight games went very routinely with serve. The first point won against the serve came in the third game. It was Musetti who looked to take command of this final after he formed a break opportunity to move into a 5-4 lead. This rare chance was wasted. along with one later to take the set.

It was the first time the Bublik serve had come under threat, but his immense baseline game helped him through it, and was on show in the tiebreak. At 2-2, the match was evenly balanced, waiting for some quality to turn the tide. Bublik was the one to show this, taking the next five points to put his nose in front.

He was looking to get this final done, not allowing his Italian opponent to claw his way back into it. After a break point came and went, he rampantly broke to love before seeing what looked like a championship-winning advantage ceased to exist with Musetti replying brilliantly. However, a third break on the spin went in the favour of Bublik where was then able to hold down the fort with a crucial hold, moving into a 4-2 lead.

All he had to do was win on his serve and the championship was his, but he was inpatient. He sailed into a 0-40 lead at 5-3, targeting a swift resolution to the match. After two chances were fended off by the two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, Bublik was not making any mistake on the third as he collects his ninth ATP title and fifth final triumph in a row.

"The only goal for this season was to achieve the Top 10 and in the first week I have won the title and I am into the Top 10," Bublik said after the match. "If you had told me that last April I would never have believed you. But it is a pleasure and I hope to continue in the same way."

We are less than two weeks into 2026, and Bublik has already clambered to where he wants to be. Nevertheless, with a player of his talent the sky seems the limit with the Australian Open the next test for the 28-year-old.