Alexander Bublik has advanced to the Australian Open second round after defeating Jenson Brooksby in straight sets.
Bublik defeated the much-improved American 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at the Margaret Court Arena on Sunday.
Bublik has a poor record in Australia, having never advanced past the second round. He now has the opportunity to end his poor run when he plays Marton Fucsovics on Tuesday.
The Kazakhstani player considered retiring from his playing career in 2024, but has since become one of the most fearsome players on the ATP Tour; recently achieving a career-high ranking of world number 10.
Bublik has harnessed the wild side of his game, becoming a more consistent – and frankly, more sensible – player when on the court.
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Bublik’s progress has not gone unnoticed, as demonstrated by recent comments made by Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova.
Martina Navratilova has been surprised by Alexander Bublik’s ‘buttoned-up’ tennis
Bublik has started the 2026 tennis season in fine form, winning his first five matches.
The 28-year-old won four consecutive matches to capture the Hong Kong Open; before winning his opening round in Melbourne.
Speaking on the Tennis Channel about Bublik’s 2024 retirement considerations, Lindsay Davenport – the 1999 Wimbledon Women’s singles champion – remarked on the 28-year-old’s progress in recent years.
Davenport said: “It’s remarkable [Bublik’s retirement considerations] when you hear the stories and the journeys players go on and sometimes there’s that one changing moment.
“And sometimes it can be in a set, in a match, a tournament, and for him the decision to go play that challenger after Indian Wells. He got a few wins, then started to find his form again.
“But it also seems like he’s doing the little things, right? Keeping his focus, playing a little bit more high percentage at times.
“He still has that flair but he is bringing the consistency which is so important when you want to get to the top 10.”
Martina Navratilova [pictured below], an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, continued the discussion, commenting on Bublik’s calmer style of play.
She added: “I think he has tamed his flash, you know, it takes a lot of talent to do what he was doing. But usually people do it as an extra, but that was his game.
“Now he’s brought it down, playing more buttoned-up like a three-piece suit type tennis and still brings the flash and top 10! I mean we would not have guessed that a couple of years ago.”
Brad Gilbert weighs in on Alexander Bublik’s improvement
Brad Gilbert, the former coach of Coco Gauff and Andy Murray, has discussed the two areas in which Bublik has significantly improved.
Gilbert, who was instrumental in Andre Agassi’s career, made the comments on X [formerly Twitter.]
He said: “Alexander Bublik playing some really good ball, roughed up Jenson Brooksby. I tell you, over the last, let’s say, 10 to 12 months, I’m not sure I’ve seen a player lately that’s improved as much as he has from where he was at 27 years old.
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“Especially off the forehand, and his composure: both those things have made him from a dangerous player who occasionally would kind of pop a good tournament, but more of a consistent (top) 50 player.
“Now he’s on the verge of maybe being a top six or seven player in the world. Very impressive.”
Bublik has a significant opportunity at this year’s Australian Open due to his poor performance at the 2025 event.
Bublik lost in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open, meaning he earned only 10 points. Therefore, if Bublik were to make a deep run this year, he could dramatically increase his ranking.
If the 28-year-old wins the Australian Open, he will earn 1,990 ATP ranking points; meaning he could climb as high as world number three upon the tournament’s conclusion.
