Key Takeaways
- Alexander Bublik revealed medical personnel advised him to withdraw 20 minutes before his Almaty semifinal against Daniil Medvedev due to a right knee injury.
- The Kazakh player sustained the issue during the deciding tiebreak of his quarterfinal victory over Karen Khachanov before retiring after losing the first set 6-3 on Saturday.
- Defending champion Daniil Medvedev reached the final against Nikoloz Basilashvili, noting his own recent knee issues and wishing Bublik a swift recovery.
Defying medical advice in front of home supporters
Home favorite Alexander Bublik revealed that doctors advised him to withdraw from his Almaty Open semifinal before stepping onto the court against Daniil Medvedev. Dealing with a right knee issue sustained the previous evening, the Kazakh number 3 seed chose to tape the joint and compete briefly rather than withdraw before the match began.
The issue originated late in Bublik’s quarterfinal triumph over Karen Khachanov, striking at 5-4 in the final-set tiebreak. Despite managing to secure a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) victory, the physical toll became apparent overnight. Bublik entered his semifinal clash with heavy taping, lasting one set before retiring while trailing Medvedev 6-3.
Addressing the rapid turnaround, Bublik explained that the physical setback occurred right as he reached the finish line of his quarterfinal run.
“It’s tennis, it’s sport,” Bublik reflected after the contest. “You play your best, then you get injured in the last point of a match.”
The 27-year-old, who marked a decade of representing Kazakhstan during the event, underwent hospital scans shortly before returning to the venue.
“20 minutes before the match, I was told not to play,” Bublik noted. He said the group opted to try anyway so he could show his appreciation to the local spectators.
Daniil Medvedev advances to Almaty final
The retirement handed defending champion Daniil Medvedev a pass into the championship match, where he will face Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili as he targets the first successful title defense of his career. Medvedev, who extended his head-to-head advantage over Bublik to 7-1, offered sympathy after the match and referenced his own knee issues ahead of the summer hard-court stretch.
Medvedev emphasized that joint injuries require extreme caution and expressed hope that Bublik would not face an extended period away from the tour.
Alexander Bublik in 2026
Currently the world no.19, Bublik played his last match on the 24th of October when he had to retire when playing against world no.5 Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal and the scoreline was 6-3 .
Currently, during this season the Kazakhstani achieved an overall 31-23 match record. The Kazakhstani has won 1 title in Hong Kong.
