“If he’s able to win a Masters, it’s our fault”: Alexander Bublik calls out ATP elite after Shanghai surprise

Alexander Bublik had his own take on the recent Shanghai Masters final, where Valentin Vacherot—outside the Top-200—defeated his compatriot Arthur Rinderknech—outside the Top-50—in an unprecedented Masters 1000 final.

While most have offered high praise for the young Monégasque and the experienced Frenchman—who achieved epic runs to reach their first Masters 1000 final—the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (No. 16) considered that part of the responsibility for what happened lies with the Top-10 players, who were not up to the task in the tournament.

Bublik was one of those who made an early exit in Shanghai, falling in his second-round debut—after receiving a first-round bye—to the eventual champion Vacherot. In the duel, Bublik took a one-set lead, but couldn't sustain it until the end of the match, and Vacherot ended up taking the victory 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, which was his first Top-20 victory of his career.

Vacherot then achieved his fourth straight victory, after defeating Basavareddy and Draxl in the qualifying, and debuting in the main draw by eliminating Laslo Djere. Following the win over Bublik, it was his first appearance in the third round of a Masters. However, there would be much more for the Monégasque, who defeated Tomáš Macháč (No. 23), Tallon Griekspoor (No. 31), Holger Rune (No. 11), and Novak Djokovic (No. 5) on his way to the final.

Bublik was recently asked about what happened in Shanghai, which ended with Vacherot winning the title after defeating Arthur Rinderknech in the final (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). The 26-year-old player became the third player to win a Masters starting from the qualifying, following the Spaniards Roberto Carretero (Hamburg 1996) and Albert Portas (Hamburg 2001).

Bublik, who has four titles this season and a 32-19 record, responded in an interview with Tennis TV that the final between Vacherot and Rinderknech "it's our fault." “I guess if he’s able to win a Masters, that it’s our fault. All of us,” commented the 28-year-old Kazakh. “We failed and we didn’t get ready enough for the Masters. That all of us, in a way he cracked how many top-20 players? Two top-10. He won a Masters.”

Bublik also mentioned the campaign of his colleague, the Frenchman Rinderknech, who defeated four Top-20 players on his way to the final, including the World No. 3 Alexander Zverev. "On the other side was Arthur (Rinderknech), killing everyone so I guess it’s a question to us. Why are we at Shanghai at the end of the season?"

“Half of us won a lot of titles, maybe one couple Slams, Masters, and we were not able to stop those two guys. That’s the question for all of us, I guess. And the level… when Carlos and Jannik are not there, this was happening.”

Bublik had started the Asian Swing in the best way, achieving his fourth title of the season at the Hangzhou Open—defeating Valentin Royer in the final (7-6, 7-6). The Kazakh, however, then suffered consecutive defeats in his debuts at the China Open (against Adrian Mannarino) and the Shanghai Masters (against Vacherot).

The World No. 16 was arriving at the final part of the season with chances to fight for a spot in the Top-10 by the end of the year, but his recent results caused him to lose ground. Nevertheless, he started his Vienna Open campaign well, defeating the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in his debut (6-4, 6-4).

The 28-year-old Bublik will face another South American in the Round of 16: the Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo, in search of the quarter-finals. The Kazakh is playing one of his last events of the year, still having the Paris Masters next week and his final event at the Metz Open starting November 3rd. In any case, he is practically assured of finishing the year in the Top-20.