Bublik stuns Draper for 'best moment of his life'

Alexander Bublik hailed his surprise four-set victory over Jack Draper in the French Open last 16 on Monday as the "best moment of his life" as the unseeded Kazakh credited his more relaxed approach to the game as key.

The world No 62, who has dropped from a career-high of 17th a year ago, fought back from a set down to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and reach the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career.

"I left it all out there. 100 percent one of the best days of my life and one of the best matches I have ever played in my life. That was as simple as that," said the 27-year-old.

"You know, sometimes in life there's only one chance and I had the feeling that was mine and I couldn't let it slip. Standing here is the best moment of my life, period."

The Russian-born player had credited his return to form in Paris to a boozy trip to Las Vegas with his coach.

"I prioritize tennis and the life in equal ways," Bublik said on Monday.

"So for me it's a 50/50 relationship. So it's not like tennis takes 90, and then it's okay. If I can't walk at the age of 40, it's okay. No, it's not.

"I prioritize the health and my lifestyle, as well, because I have a family and I'm a father, and I have to do the father duties."

Draper was favorite after winning the Indian Wells title on hard court and reaching the Madrid Open final on clay earlier this season.

But Bublik produced an inspired performance to set up a last-eight tie at Roland Garros against No 1 Jannik Sinner.

Bublik sealed the win in a dramatic final game, in which Draper missed five break points, on his second match point.

"So that's how I approach it, and that's why I played full and I played high risk, because that was the only chance," continued Bublik.

"You know I'm standing here like I won the thing, but at the end what can I say.

"Thank you guys. I can't cry here, come on, stop. Let me be in peace. I still have a match to go, I'm a professional tennis player, I've got to get ready."

Bublik is the lowest-ranked man to earn two top-10 wins at Roland Garros since No 100 Andrei Medvedev beat Pete Sampras and Gustavo Kuerten to reach the 1999 final.

Bublik won 79 percent of his first-serve points and converted on five of six break points to achieve his first win over Draper in three meetings.

Not known for his skills on red clay, all of Bublik's four tour-level titles and 11 finals have come on either hard or grass courts. He had reached the fourth round once before at a major, at Wimbledon in 2023.

"Maybe this is the first year I haven't complained about playing on clay, as I don't have a lot of options because I was dropping a lot in the rankings. Yeah, I guess that's the key," he continued.

This season, he reached the fourth round at the Madrid Masters and won the Turin second-tier Challenger Tour event on clay.

"I thought he played incredibly well. He didn't allow me to play my tennis," said 23-year-old Draper.

"A couple of dips here and there, and he took advantage. It hurts a lot. I had an opportunity today, and I missed my opportunity, for sure."

AFP