Midnight Mania as Alexnader Bublik Shocks Tommy Paul to Set-up Jannik Sinner Blockbuster

The opening set set the tone for the contest, with both men locked in on serve. Bublik edged it in a tense tiebreak, demonstrating the calmness and precision that has defined his remarkable 2025 season. Paul struck back to level the match, but Bublik surged again to move ahead two sets to one in what was quickly becoming one of the most entertaining contests of the tournament.

Paul refused to surrender easily, however. Feeding off the energy of the home fans, the American dug deep to snatch the fourth set 7-5, keeping his hopes alive and pushing the match deep into the night. But in the decider, Bublik turned the dial to another level. He overwhelmed Paul with his serving and finesse, sprinting to a 6-1 finish well past 1 a.m. in New York.

The statistics behind Bublik’s run are staggering. He has yet to drop serve in the entire tournament, underlining both his confidence and consistency on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Against Paul, he also executed 28 successful drop shots—long one of his signature weapons—to keep his opponent off balance throughout.

The win propels Bublik into the fourth round, where he will face Jannik Sinner. The recent history favors the Kazakh, who has beaten the Italian in two of their last three meetings. With his confidence soaring, Bublik will also rise to No. 17 in the ATP rankings, matching his career-high mark.

For American tennis, Paul’s defeat means Taylor Fritz now carries the nation’s sole hopes in the men’s singles draw.

As for Bublik, his artistry and audacity continue to captivate the New York crowd, and with momentum firmly on his side, he is emerging as one of the most dangerous dark horses left in the tournament.