"Talented clown but clown nonetheless" "Sooner or later somebody will hit him"- Fans react to Alexander Bublik's on-court behavior in Adelaide

Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik drew flak from tennis fans on the internet for his on-court antics during the Adelaide International semifinal against Jack Draper on Friday, January 12.

Bublik's Adelaide campaign ended in the semifinals with a straight-set loss to Draper. The match started with a close first set going into the tiebreak, but the Brit fared well in the clutch moments to earn a 7-6(4), 6-4 win and advance to the final. Draper later lost in the summit clash to Jiri Lehecka.

Bublik, known for his controversial behaviour on court, performed an underarm serve as well as his notorious 'racket butt shot' to close out the third game in the second set. Some fans online were not happy with the Kazakshtani's actions, labelling him a "clown."

A third fan called for declaring the underarm serve, the racket butt shot, and other unconventional moves illegal in tennis.

"It's gonna be quick tennis without rhythm" - Alexander Bublik's next opponent Sumit Nagal looks forward to playing him at Australian Open 2024

Alexander Bublik is scheduled to play India's Sumit Nagal in the opening round of the Australian Open 2024 on Tuesday, January 14. This will be the duo's first-ever clash.

Nagal entered the main draw after going through the qualifiers in Melbourne. He defeated Geoffrey Blancaneaux, Edward Winter, and Alex Molcan in his qualifying matches. Ahead of the Bublik clash, he said:

Over the years, Alexander Bublik has fared poorly Down Under. His best Australian Open campaigns have been second-round finishes in 2017, 2021, and 2022. He competed in the main draw in 2020 and 2023 as well but couldn't collect any wins.

About the author

Ayush is a passionate and driven tennis journalist who has been writing for Sportskeeda since July 2023. Before joining Sportskeeda, he worked as a sub-editor at The Tribune. Armed with a combined bachelor's degree in English, Mathematics, and Economics, he seamlessly blends the art of multitasking into his routine.

With over 1,300 articles penned for Sportskeeda, his work has garnered nearly 9 million reads in a short span. He covered the 2025 Australian Open and Adelaide International from the ground. He prioritizes accuracy and rigorous fact-checking, and keeps abreast of tennis news through social media while also ensuring he steers clear of unconfirmed speculation and rumors.

A lifelong Novak Djokovic fan, Ayush admires how the Serb doesn't always conform to the "idealistic" image expected of tennis stars. To him, Djokovic's versatility across all surfaces cements his status as the undisputed GOAT. Since his pre-teen days, he has loved Wimbledon, and the tournament never fails to "bring out the kid inside him". In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, savoring delicious meals, and writing poems.

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