Bublik Does Care About Tennis

It has been over two weeks since the EPIC Roland Garros final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. It is clear that it was the best match of the entire tournament, but I don’t want anyone to forget how amazing Bublik played throughout the tournament. He played the best match of his life against Jannik Sinner in the fourth round. That said, his tournament win in Halle was also spectacular. When I watched Bublik win that tournament in 2023—an ATP 500 grass court event—he took out Sinner in the quarterfinals, Zverev in the semifinals, and Rublev in the final. Sinner retired after losing the first set in the quarters, but regardless, Bublik played top-10 caliber tennis throughout the event. Hence, I want to explain that Bublik cares about tennis and winning.

Unique Serve

For right-handed players, the more the toss goes toward 11 o’clock, the more the body bends midair at contact. If the toss is at 1 o’clock, the body is more upright at contact. Bublik typically tosses to the 1 o’clock position, which suits his loading posture perfectly. Most ATP players bend their torsos backward or forward during their serve, especially when their toss leans more left. That motion enables a more aggressive loading.

However, when you observe Bublik’s loading position, his upper body stays fairly upright, generating power primarily by bending his knees. That’s why nearly all his serves contact the ball around 1 o’clock. This makes it ideal for hitting flat bombs—Bublik has one of the best flat serves on tour. He also executes effective slice serves. But you cannot hit a proper kick serve from that toss location.

No Kick Serve?

This doesn’t mean he’s incapable of hitting a kick serve. He uses a somewhat unorthodox grip—still a continental, but with his hand slightly higher on the handle than most. This grip doesn’t restrict kick serve ability. A good kick serve requires a toss closer to 12 o’clock—or even past it toward 11—for right-handed players.

So why doesn’t Bublik hit kick serves? It’s a fascinating insight. A player who can hit drop shots with the touch and creativity of Carlos Alcaraz surely knows how to hit a kick serve. But according to his statements, Bublik avoids kick serves because he doesn’t want to engage in long rallies. He has said that he doesn’t have the physical or mental capacity to play grinding, extended points.

He understands that if he hits a kick serve, the return will likely come back deep and start a rally—something he’s trying to avoid. This is why Bublik often follows up a big flat serve with a drop shot on the next ball. It’s an intentional game plan: keep rallies short, stay unpredictable, and break the opponent’s rhythm as early as possible.

Entertaining Crowds

Bublik has admitted he doesn’t want to play long matches or get dragged into physical battles. He believes he has a better shot at beating top players by playing an unorthodox, high-risk style that keeps points brief. But here’s the key: this style only works if it’s authentic. You can’t just imitate it. It has to be natural.

And for Bublik, it is. In the Nothing Major podcast, he explained that he’s always played tennis this way—even when no one was watching. Whether it’s mixed doubles or practice, he still attempts outrageous shots, like tweeners and underhand serves. It’s how he instinctively sees the game.

When he first joined the ATP Tour, this style wasn’t calculated—it was simply his norm. But with the rise of social media, his flashy style drew attention. He admitted that when playing in big stadiums, he began to feel like a clown, pressured to entertain and continue playing that way because people expected it.

Strong Motivation

One of the most common things said about Bublik is that he doesn’t care when he’s on court. That perception explains the underarm serves, trick shots, and seemingly reckless tactics. While he has admitted that there were matches where he didn’t care—serving underarm out of boredom—I want to challenge that narrative.

Bublik does care. Here’s the proof: since 2019, he’s finished every year inside the top 60. Since 2021, he’s been inside the top 40. He reached as high as No. 17 in the world. That wasn’t accidental. He worked for it. And once he reached that milestone, he wanted more. Being ranked top 20 was a long-term goal for him—he had been top 20 in Europe, top 20 in the ITF, and he wanted to replicate that on the ATP tour.

But in 2025, things went sideways. Bublik played some of the worst tennis of his career, suffering many consecutive first-round exits. His ranking plummeted, and he dropped out of the top 60. With many points to defend, he feared falling outside the top 100—a drop he wasn’t sure he could recover from.

But the reason for his slump wasn’t apathy. It was the opposite. He burned himself out from overtraining and trying too hard. He was chasing perfection, and it drained him.

Flipping The Switch

After a crushing first-round loss in Indian Wells, Bublik and his coach made some tough decisions; they flew to Las Vegas for a reset and then entered the Phoenix Challenger. The move echoed Andre Agassi’s career resurgence—Agassi once dropped down to Challenger-level events to rebuild confidence and form. It changed Agassi’s career, and for Bublik, it did the same.

In Phoenix, he began winning matches again. He lost the final to Joao Fonseca, but the spark was reignited. During the clay court season, he lost early in Monte Carlo to Lajovic, but soon found momentum again. He even won a Challenger in Tün, building form and much-needed belief.

New Equipment

Together with his coach, Bublik decided to switch racquets. He began using the Babolat Pure Aero 98, arguably the most versatile and practical racquet today. Used by professional players like Carlos Alcaraz and recreational players like Sebastian Guerrero, the Pure Aero 98 offers a powerful blend of spin, feel, and explosiveness. It allowed Bublik to unleash his creativity without sacrificing consistency or power.

The Aero 98 gives players like Bublik the tools to hit the ball heavy, create angle and depth, and still generate excellent touch on volleys and drop shots. Bublik's incredible run was led by renewed confidence, consistent match wins, and this gear switch.

Bublik’s unconventional style, flair, and refusal to rally might cause big trouble for top players. His one-of-a-kind game style can cause a few problems for even the most unshakable players. Watch out for Bublik at Wimbledon, where his serve and drop shot will be even bigger weapons.