Alexander Bublik was unable to complete his semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev at the Almaty Open.
Bublik was the only remaining home player at the Almaty Open after coming from behind to win a dramatic quarter-final match against Karen Khachanov.
However, Bublik was unable to complete his semi-final match against defending champion Medvedev, having retired after losing the first set.
Bublik appeared to be struggling with a right knee issue against Medvedev, and he has now provided an update on his plans for the rest of the season.
Alexander Bublik admits the end of his season is ‘in question’ after retiring
Bublik spoke in his press conference after retiring against Medvedev, where he admitted that he had actually been advised by doctors not to take to the court.
“I think it’s tennis, it’s sport. You know, you play your best, then get injured on the last point of the match against Karen,” said Bublik. “I got injured at 5-4 in the tie-break in the third set. You win one of the best matches of the season in your home country in the tournament you always wanted to play and then 10 hours later you’re in hospital getting an MRI.
“But that’s what sport is about, that’s what makes you tough. That’s what makes you a player and I’ve always been telling the juniors that these moments are what define your career. So just go through it, don’t really think too much about it. It happened.
“My goal was to step on the court to show my love to the Almaty fans, to show my love to the country, I know they were waiting for me. I gave my best to play the set, because I was told not to play at all. I was told 20 minutes before the match not to play. We made a decision with my team and the federation that I would give it my best.
“I’m going to tape my knee and I’m going to step on the court. I was thinking I wasn’t going to survive for more than two, three games, but the crowd carried me on and I stayed for the set, which was already an achievement and a victory for me today so nothing more to add.”
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Bublik was asked a follow-up question later on in this press conference about his injury, as he admitted that this could bring an end to his season, with the recovery time set at between three to six weeks.
“Well since the season is only going for two more weeks anyway, there’s only the 500 in Basel and the Paris Masters left,” added Bublik. “On average, with an injury like this for a player of my height, we’re probably talking about three to six weeks.
“So the end of the season is in question, in big question, but since the ATP calendar is relentless and we have mandatory tournaments that we are obligated to play, both Basel and Paris fall into that category, Therefore, I will fly to Basel tomorrow regardless, will try to do something. Most likely, nothing will come of it, but today I played a set. Maybe tomorrow I’ll play a set and two games. And that’s how you slowly get through it.
“Like any athlete, injuries are part of the game. We can often play through them, sometimes it’s not possible to play through them, for example like today, because the pain was increasing. And it’s all individual, but on average with what I have now, it’s three to six weeks. It’s good that it happened at the end of the season, bad that it happened in Almaty, but it is what it is.”
Bublik has already withdrawn from competing at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, with just two tournaments remaining on his schedule in 2026. Bublik is also entered into the Paris Masters, as well as the Stockholm Open, but with the recovery time it appears likely that he may miss both of those tournaments before returning in 2027.
