Alexander Bublik secures Top 10 debut after capturing Hong Kong title

It was a big day for Alexander Bublik in Hong Kong on Sunday, as he not only captured his first ATP title of the year, but in doing so, he also secured his Top 10 debut.

He’ll rise from No. 11 to No. 10 when the new ATP rankings come out on Monday, becoming the first player representing Kazakhstan ever to break into the ATP Top 10.

“Well, I have no words,” he said after defeating Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets the final, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

“I mean, the only goal for this season was to achieve the Top 10, and the first week I’m winning the title, I’m into the Top 10. If you told me that last April, I would never believe you.”

Bublik’s latest ranking breakthrough has been a long time coming—he cracked the Top 100 in 2017, the Top 50 in 2019 and the Top 20 in 2024, and now, the Top 10.

And it’s come after an incredible stretch, winning 34 of his last 43 matches since last May, as well as five titles in the last seven months—Halle, Gstaad, Kitzbuhel and Hangzhou last year, and now Hong Kong already this year.

Winning the Hong Kong title wasn’t easy, though—not only did he have to come back from a set down against American Marcos Giron in the semifinals, battling through that match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, but the first set of the final against Musetti could have gone either way, as Bublik had to fight off break point in both his 4-all and 5-all service games before sneaking the opening frame out in a tie-break.

But once the first set was in his pocket, Bublik’s game truly started flowing, as he won four of the last five games from 2-all to close it out after an hour and 38 minutes.

Musetti, who was treated by the trainer during the final for what appeared to be an arm injury, has now lost his last seven finals in a row—but there’s a silver lining, as he’s projected to make his Top 5 debut on Monday.

“It’s not easy to speak after a loss, especially in the final, and it seems like it’s not my match,” the Italian commented. “But congrats to Sascha for the amazing achievements, not just today but he had an amazing season last year, and he definitely couldn’t start better this year.”

Bublik had kind words for Musetti during his trophy speech.

“I also have lost a lot of finals in my life, I know how it feels,” he said. “But these finals you lost are going to lead to some very big moments of your career, and I’m sure you’re going to win something that you cannot even dream about now.”