Alexander Bublik’s Serve Magic Leads To Historic US Open Run

You know that feeling when you’re watching a tennis match at 1 AM and you can’t look away? That is exactly what happened when Alexander Bublik decided to put on a serving clinic against Tommy Paul in the early hours of Sunday morning at Flushing Meadows.

The 28-year-old from Kazakhstan just pulled off something pretty remarkable—reaching his first-ever US Open fourth round after surviving a five-set marathon that had more twists than a soap opera. And the best part? The guy hasn’t dropped his serve once this entire tournament. Not once. That’s like going through three rounds of the US Open playing tennis on cheat mode. Can he keep it going?

When Your Serve Becomes Your Superpower

Let’s talk about what made this match absolutely bonkers. Bublik faced 12 break points throughout the tournament and saved every single one. Against Paul, he was even more ridiculous—22 aces, 83% first-serve points won, and enough drop shots to make Paul’s fitness tracker weep.

“Yes, it is incredible,” Bublik said to the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd when reporter Pam Shriver complimented his serve. No false modesty here, folks. “I have no explanation, but I was playing today and I was like, ‘Eventually it’s going to happen, right?'”

The man’s got a point. Paul had multiple set points, multiple opportunities to crack the Bublik serve code, but couldn’t quite solve the puzzle. It’s like trying to guess someone’s Netflix password.

The Match That Had Everything

This wasn’t just your typical late-night US Open thriller. We are talking about a match that featured three tiebreaks, multiple medical timeouts, and enough drama to fill a tennis documentary. Paul, coming off his own five-set war against Nuno Borges just two days earlier, looked like he was running on fumes by the fifth set.

The turning point came in the fourth set tiebreak. Bublik was literally one point away from closing it out in four sets, up 5-4 in the breaker. Then tennis happened. Two unforced errors later, Paul was celebrating forcing a fifth set like he’d just won Wimbledon.

But here’s where it gets brutal for Paul. That burst of energy? It lasted about as long as free samples at Costco on a Saturday. Bublik raced to a 5-0 lead in the deciding set, and suddenly Paul looked like he was playing tennis in quicksand.

What Makes Bublik Special

Here’s what you need to understand about Bublik. He is not your typical tennis robot. He’s got personality, he’s got flair, and he’s got that serve that makes other players question their life choices. His drop shot game against Paul was chef’s kiss perfect, constantly dragging the American forward and then passing him like he was standing still.

But beyond the tennis wizardry, Bublik showed some serious class in his post-match interview. Instead of basking in his own glory, he took time to shout out Paul and Ben Shelton, both dealing with injuries. “I would like to wish them the best recovery because they’re close friends, and it was a pity to see them like this.” That’s the kind of sportsmanship that makes tennis special, even at 1 AM when everyone’s half-asleep.

The Sinner Showdown Awaits

Now comes the real test. Bublik gets to face World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the fourth round, and while they have played six times before (Sinner leads 4-2), Bublik has won two of their last three meetings, including a victory at Halle earlier this year.

“That’s tough, really tough,” Bublik said about facing Sinner. “In five-set format, I haven’t done it yet. But I’ll try to use my chances.” Translation: The serve party might finally come to an end against Sinner, but Bublik’s not going down without a fight. And honestly, after watching him survive three hours and 38 minutes against Paul without losing serve, would you bet against him?

This US Open has already been wild with upsets and injuries, but Bublik’s run feels different. It is not just about the wins—it’s about how he’s winning. When your serve is so good that you can joke about it potentially failing against the world’s best player, you know you’re in a special zone. The fourth round awaits, and for the first time in his career, Bublik belongs there. Not bad for a guy who just wanted to avoid playing at 11 PM again.