Alexander Bublik captured his eighth tour-level title at the Hangzhou Open, defeating French qualifier Valentin Royer in a demanding final. The victory marked his first trophy on outdoor hard courts and ensured he will rise to a career-high No. 16 in the PIF ATP Rankings. With this triumph, Bublik joined World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz as the only men to have won four or more titles in 2025.
Bublik on staying balanced
Reflecting on his season, Bublik explained his approach to success and setbacks: “Honestly I always say that wins don’t make me go through the roof and losses don’t put me to the ground. I try to stay stable. I enjoy what I do. I’m happy that I’m able to travel, play tournaments and stay healthy, and the wins are coming… That’s beautiful.”
A tough battle against Royer
The final was the first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between Bublik and Royer. The Kazakh struggled to find rhythm early on but relied on his unpredictable style and powerful serve to edge through. He struck 21 aces and saved both break points he faced during the one-hour, 51-minute contest.
Speaking about his opponent, Bublik praised Royer’s level of play: “He played unbelievable, and I wasn’t expecting that. He was near this level during the tournament, and he exceeded it. He was playing well and I really had to serve and do my best in order to win. I served and hit some amazing shots throughout the match and I won by only a few points.”
Looking ahead
The Hangzhou title adds to Bublik’s growing list of achievements across different surfaces this season. His consistency and ability to adapt have placed him firmly among the top contenders on the ATP Tour as he continues his push towards the year-end finals.
Alexander Bublik in 2025
Ranked no.16 (career-high), Bublik played his last match on the 23rd of September when he defeated world no.76 Valentin Royer 7-6(4) 7-6(4) in the final in Hangzhou to win his 8th career title.
This season the Kazakhstani has an overall 42-19 record. Alexander clinched 5 titles in 2025 in the Turin Challenger, Halle, Gstaad, Kitzbuhel and Hangzhou. Alexander reached the final in the Phoenix Challenger.