Jannik Sinner’s 49-match winning streak against players other than Carlos Alcaraz came to an end in Halle against Alexander Bublik.
Sinner was 19-2 on the season and had barely raised a sweat against any player other than the Spaniard, who got the better of him at Roland-Garros the last two years.
The world No.1 had not lost to anyone outside the top 20 since 2023 – 673 days – but the Kazakhstan star, the world No.45, willed his way to victory coming from a set down to take it 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
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Bublik’s only previous win over Sinner came at Halle two years ago.
“I honestly don’t know. I stayed there. I know what I’m capable of. I know I can put a few returns back,” Bublik said when asked how he broke the italian’s lengthy streak.
“It’s a very fast surface. He gave me a chance. I had an amazing forehand to break him in the third set.
Jannik Sinner R and Alexander Bublik gesture after the men’s singles quarterfinal match between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 4, 2025. (Photo by Li Jing/Xinhua via Getty Images) Xinhua News Agency via Getty Ima
“Then I just kept serving. On grass, if you lose your serve, it’s quite tough maybe. I’m not the guy who loses a lot of serves.
“I just kept serving and putting him in uncomfortable positions. It worked well.”
Surprisingly, Bublik came to life in the second set with his huge serve and lightning groundstokes putting him in a dominant position.
Bublik, who finished 35 winners and 15 aces, broke Sinner in the second frame and the third, when he used a quick counter to a Sinner drive volley to take a 4-3 lead in the final set.
“I tried to be clutch. I tried to get back whatever I can. I mean he’s an unbelievable player. I was not thinking I could beat him.
“If I would have a few chances and I executed them well, and I kept serving, I had for certain better chance than at Roland-Garros. I stayed there.
Bublik celebrates. Getty
“Tried to return as much as I could. Serve aces so the ball doesn’t come back.
“He gave me a chance. I had an amazing forehand to break in the third set and I just kept serving.”
Bublik has now won four of his last seven meetings against players ranked in the top five.
However, he was 0-3 against world No.1s heading into the match in Germany.
“It’s a special one,” he said. “I had never beaten a world No.1 – I’ll take it.”
Bublik will face Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals as he navigates a second title in Halle, after winning the tournament in 2023.
