Alexander Bublik was born in Gatchina, a town near St. Petersburg, before switching to represent Kazakhstan in 2016. The decision was largely motivated by financial opportunities that allowed him to support his professional career.
Early memories on St. Petersburg courts
Bublik’s connection to St. Petersburg runs deep. In 2015, while still representing Russia, he lost in the qualifying final round of the local ATP event. The following year, he made his ATP debut on the same courts, facing Daniil Medvedev. These experiences marked the beginning of his journey on the professional circuit.
Return through the Northern Palmyra Trophies
Although St. Petersburg has not hosted an ATP tournament since 2021 due to sanctions, Bublik returned to the city this weekend to participate in the Northern Palmyra Trophies, an exhibition mixed team tournament. The event has drawn criticism for involving international players in a Russian competition, but Bublik has made clear he does not regret his choice.
A step back into childhood
Speaking to Championat, Bublik shared the emotional significance of playing in his hometown once again.
“I don’t need any extra motivation to come to my hometown to play in front of my people, in front of the fans I grew up with. So for me, even being here… I literally just landed here a couple of hours ago, but being here is like a return to my childhood. I grew up on these courts, I played my very first ATP tournament here. So for me, it’s a step back into my childhood and the fondest memories. I simply have no moral right to miss such things,” Bublik said.
Competing with and against top names
In the exhibition, Bublik is competing alongside Tallon Griekspoor, Diana Shnaider, and Ana Potapova. Their opponents include Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, Veronika Kudermetova, and Yulia Putintseva. The event not only brings together top talent but also highlights Bublik’s enduring bond with the city where his tennis journey began.
Alexander Bublik in 2025
WWWWWLWWWW Ranked world no.11 (career-high), Alexander played his last match on the 5th of November when he was overcome by world no.169 Vitaliy Sachko 7-5 3-6 7-5 in the 2nd round in Metz (draw).
Currently, during this year Alexander has achieved a 48-24 win-loss record. The Kazakhstani conquered 5 titles in 2025 in the Turin Challenger, Halle, Gstaad, Kitzbuhel and Hangzhou. Alexander was the finalist in the Phoenix Challenger.
