ATP player who finished 2025 ranked inside the top 15 admits he nearly retired last year

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The unpredictability of the ATP Tour is what makes tennis one of the most compelling sports on the planet.

Outside of the top players, competitors often struggle to play at the top of their game for consistent stretches.

This means the rankings often fluctuate throughout the year, with several players meandering from the upper echelons to outside the top 30.

Alexander Bublik has experienced the difficulties of the ATP Tour, having nearly dropped out of the top 100 at the start of 2025 to ending the season on the cusp of the top 10.

Alexander Bublik nearly retired from tennis at the end of 2024

Bublik fell to a ranking low of World No. 82 in March of this year, following on from extremely poor form from the backend of the 2024 season.

The star’s form became so disappointing that he contemplated retiring from the sport completely at the end of the 2024 season.

Speaking to Tennis Magazine, Bublik explained: “I was very dissatisfied with myself at the end of last season, even at the beginning of this one.

“In fact, I considered ending my career because I was worried about dropping out of the top 100, that would have changed everything.”

The star managed to turn his form around in the late Spring, and he won four tournaments from June onward.

Bublik explained: “After Indian Wells, I went to Las Vegas for three days to disconnect, but the truth is, I was quite worried.

“From then on, it was like starting a mission. I tried to maintain the variety in my game, suddenly I became much more consistent.

“I also changed up my training a bit, for example, by greatly improving my forehand, especially on clay. I gained a lot of confidence in myself in Challenger tournaments, fighting to climb back up the rankings.

“I improved my physical condition, also a racket change that was key, a much lighter model weighing 291 grams.”

Bublik heads into the 2026 season with a genuine chance of cracking the top 10 for the first time in his career.

Alexander Bublik’s biggest wins of 2025

Bublik’s turnaround has not only helped him land more trophies than ever before in 2025, but it’s also helped him compete with the best players in the game.

The star picked up six victories over top 10 players in 2025, which is more than he’s managed in any other season.

They include a stellar victory over Jannik Sinner at the Halle Open, and Bublik ended the season as one of three men to beat the Italian.

Bublik also managed victories against Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, and Jack Draper in his best-ever season on the ATP Tour.