Bublik’s serve stands unbreakable in Hangzhou triumph
Alexander Bublik turned the Hangzhou hard courts into his personal fortress, his serve a relentless shield that repelled every challenge en route to a fourth title and a career milestone amid rising stakes.
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Under the humid glow of Hangzhou‘s floodlights, Alexander Bublik dispatched Valentin Royer in a pair of taut tiebreaks, 7-6(4), 7-6(4), to claim his fourth title of 2025. The 28-year-old Kazakhstani’s serve remained impregnable throughout the one-hour, 51-minute final, firing 21 aces and saving both break points he faced. This victory marked his first on outdoor hard courts and his eighth overall, a flawless week that echoed Taylor Fritz‘s earlier serve-perfect run on the ATP Tour.
Bublik’s unpredictability shone through early struggles, blending heavy inside-out forehands with sly underspin slices crosscourt to keep the spirited French qualifier off balance. Royer, who had stunned top seed Andrey Rublev in the second round after qualifying, elevated his game beyond expectations, his aggressive returns and sharp down-the-line angles testing the champion’s resolve. Yet Bublik’s varied deliveries—a flat rocket down the T followed by a kicking second serve—disrupted any budding rhythm, turning the match into a showcase of mental fortitude on the unyielding surface.
The crowd’s energy pulsed with each hold, the air thick with anticipation as Royer’s one–two punches forced Bublik to dig deeper. He capitalized on probing dropshots that drew the Frenchman forward, then unleashed winners that exploited the court’s pace. This tactical edge not only secured the Lynk & Co Hangzhou Open crown but propelled him to a career-high No. 16 in the PIF ATP Rankings, joining World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz as one of only two men with four or more trophies this year.
“Honestly I always say that wins don’t make me go through the roof and losses don’t put me to the ground,” Bublik reflected on his season. “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.”
Week long human highlight reel @HangzhouOpen | #HangzhouOpen pic.twitter.com/pbDaoJKUA1
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 23, 2025
Servicing pressure with steady resolve
Bublik’s path to Hangzhou built on title runs in Halle, Gstaad, and Kitzbühel, where grass and clay had honed his chaos into controlled bursts. On these hard courts, he refined his serve’s wildness, using underspin on seconds to neutralize returns and keep rallies concise. The humid atmosphere amplified every echo of aces, the spectators’ murmurs swelling as he saved break points with deep crosscourt backhands, his poise a bulwark against the season’s accumulating weight. His 31-17 record in 2025 now trails his 2021 best of 35 victories by just five, a testament to sustained health and enjoyment amid travel’s toll. Royer, in his first ATP final, climbed 13 spots to a career-high No. 75 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, his breakthrough injecting volatility into the draw. Bublik acknowledged the challenge, noting how the Frenchman’s fire demanded peak performance from the opening exchanges.“He played unbelievable, and I wasn’t expecting that,” Bublik said. “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.”
Race to Turin edges closer
This Hangzhou scalp vaulted Bublik three places to 12th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, brightening his prospects for a Nitto ATP Finals debut. The psychological lift arrives as the hard-court swing intensifies, with Beijing’s ATP 500 next on the docket—a venue where his serve’s fortress could prove decisive once more. Fans felt the momentum shift in the post-match roar, Bublik’s steady gaze signaling reserves for the autumn battles ahead, his game evolving from wildcard to weapon.HangzhouAlexander Bublik2025
