Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik defeated third-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-3 3-6 6-3 on Sunday to win the Halle Open, his first-ever victory on grass just over a week before Wimbledon began.
The 26-year-old also won his 2nd tour title, following his victory in Montpellier in 2022.
Bublik, rated 48th in the world, shot out of the blocks and snatched a break on Rublev’s very first service game to move 2-0 up. Bublik won the opening set in no time because of his thunderous serve, which was impossible for his opponent to get back.
Rublev, who was competing in his second Halle final in 3 years and hoping to add to his Monte-Carlo title this season, got his revenge when he successfully converted his third break point of the match at 3-2.
He held serve to level the match, but Bublik recovered and went a break up in the third set with a brilliant backhand crosscourt winner.
The Kazakh, who has played in two Newport finals and has experience on grass, did serve a dozen double faults during the match, but he came out on top by hitting a second serve ace on his 1st match point to win his second tour title.