"If tomorrow I receive a text saying we’re all not going to the Slams...": Alexander Bublik backs potential Grand Slam boycott debate

Alexander Bublik returned to winning form at the Rome Open after three consecutive defeats during the clay swing. The Kazakh defeated Sebastián Báez with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 scoreline and secured his return – at least temporarily – to the top 10 at the ATP Rankings.

After a strong 2025, the 28-year-old player has been far from his best level in recent months, arriving in Rome with just two wins in his last seven matches. Clay courts had previously brought him strong results, including two ATP 250 titles and his first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance achieved at Roland Garros. However, this time he has not fully convinced on the slower surfaces.

“I think I played well. To be honest, I lost it a bit after Monaco,” explained the world No. 11 to Tennis Channel. “I had a minor injury in my race, then I was not feeling well in Munich, and then obviously in Madrid I lost to Stefanos. He’s a great player, so I was not feeling my game very well.”

This time against Báez – a surface specialist with six clay titles and four additional finals – the clear dominant force was Bublik, who managed four breaks in nine opportunities and did not concede his serve. “I wanted to perform well in the Masters. I did well in Monaco, then I failed in Madrid, so I have this last Masters before coming to Roland Garros, and I hope to do well. I just hope to play well, feel good, and make some results.”

The 28-year-old is going through a key phase for his ambitions, considering he has the chance to finish the week back inside the top 10. At the moment, he sits 10th in the live rankings, although he still needs to add points if he wants to secure a stable position within the elite group.

“I put extra hours in practice, and I was really pushing coming to Rome because I really like this tournament and I want to do well here,” he added. “I never passed the third round here in my life, and it’s one of my favorite Masters alongside Monaco, as I said, and I’m looking forward to continue the form and hope for the best.”

Bublik secured his place in the third round in Rome, a round he only reached once before back in 2023 – his best result in the Italian capital. This time he will face Learner Tien in search of his first-ever appearance in the fourth round.

One of the most discussed topics during the past week has been the prize money distribution announced for Roland Garros and the potential boycott that players have raised regarding upcoming Grand Slam tournaments, with Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner leading the claims – almost unanimously supported by the stars of both the ATP and WTA.

Bublik joined the criticism regarding prize money distribution and expressed his support for demands to make the financial structure of major tournaments more equitable and better distributed among players.

“I’m with the players. We deserve respect. We deserve more payments,” Bublik said. “It has to be fair, it has to be respectful, it has to be fair to us. What’s been happening in the past 30 years—I've spoken to legends of the game like Stan and Gael, everyone who’s been there for 20 years—it’s been the same, and in some weeks even worse.”

Currently, Grand Slam tournaments distribute around 15% of revenues among players, which differs significantly from other major sporting events, where prize distributions range between 40% and 50% – meaning tennis players receive barely a third of what athletes in other sports are allocated.

“Now we have less prize money than it used to be. If you check certain tournaments, there is less prize money for the winner than 15 years ago,” Bublik said. “I checked myself through the fact sheets. So I think we deserve respect. And if tomorrow I receive a text saying we’re all not going to the Slams, we’re not going to the Slams. I’m with the guys.”

“It has to be fair. Jannik said it perfectly in the arena as well. He said we deserve respect,” added the 28-year-old player. “We deserve to be treated like people who are bringing money to the sport, because if we are not out there, who is going to play?”