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Alexander Bublik had a stunning meltdown in Rotterdam as the Kazakh called tennis "a f------ sport" and said the game is only giving him a headache. Last week in Montpellier, Bublik broke three rackets in a span of a few seconds.
This week, Bublik lost it while down by a set and a break to Stan Wawrinka in their Rotterdam first-round match. “I’m complaining how stupid this f------ sport is, because it is f------ stupid. Playing tennis is a headache," Wawrinka was heard complaining to the chair umpire, per Eurosport.
Bublik loses again and has another meltdown
Bublik, who captured his first ATP title in Montpellier last year, failed to defend his title after losing against Gregoire Barrere in the first round. Down 6-0 to Barrere in the third-set tie-break, Bublik absolutely lost it and broke three rackets before suffering a 6-4 6-7 (12) 7-6 (3) loss.
This week in Rotterdam, Bublik suffered a 7-6 (5) 6-4 loss to Wawrinka in the first round. After Wawrinka defeated Bublik, he described it as his best performance since returning from a foot surgery last March. "I think it's my best performance since I came back from my [left foot] injury last year.
I've been working really hard to be fit again, feeling food. Tonight, tennis-wise and fitness-wise I'm feeling great, so hopefully I can keep going. I know I need to push myself, I know the process takes time, especially at my age.
But I also know the way I'm playing, the way I'm practising, the way I'm working hard, I will get some big results this year," Wawrinka said. Meanwhile, Bublik is off to a very rough start to the 2023 season as the Kazakh is 0-8 in 2023.
Facing a loss against Wawrinka, Bublik lost his composure and made it clear how he was feeling about tennis and his form. It remains to be seen if Bublik can find some form and rhythm in his next tournaments.