Alexander Bublik recently claimed he and other players have given up trying to win Grand Slam titles because of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
During an interview with ‘Tennis Magazin‘, Bublik shared his thoughts on the current state of the ATP Tour.
“At Grand Slams, where [Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz are at their best and perfectly prepared, you don’t really stand a chance. I have the feeling the other players have given up, me included, by the way,” said Bublik.
Predict the ATP year-end top five!
Will Jannik Sinner still be on top?
If Bublik is right, and players have given up, that’s bad news for the ATP Tour…
Tennis is in a bad place if top players have given up on winning Grand Slams
Bublik is one of the very best players in men’s tennis.
The Kazakhstani is the current world number 11, a former Grand Slam quarter-finalist, and a nine-time ATP title winner.
Official ATP Rankings
- 1. Jannik Sinner – 13,450 points
- 2. Alexander Zverev – 8,480 points
- 3. Carlos Alcaraz – 8,160 points
- 4. Felix Auger-Aliassime – 4,740 points
- 5. Alex de Minaur – 4,110 points
- 6. Ben Shelton – 3,770 points
- 7. Novak Djokovic – 3,760 points
- 8. Daniil Medvedev – 3,670 points
- 9. Flavio Cobolli – 3,460 points
- 10. Taylor Fritz – 3,365 points
- 11. Alexander Bublik – 2,810 points
- 12. Jiri Lehecka – 2,510 points
- 13. Casper Ruud – 2,435 points
- 14. Lorenzo Musetti – 2,315 points
- 15. Learner Tien – 2,270 points
He’s also recorded two wins over Sinner, a feat very few others can match.
Alexander Bublik’s H2H record vs Jannik Sinner/Carlos Alcaraz (2-7)
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2026 Monte Carlo Masters – QF | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Bublik | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2025 Vienna Open – QF | Jannik Sinner | Alexander Bublik | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2025 US Open – 4R | Jannik Sinner | Alexander Bublik | 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2025 Halle Open – 2R | Alexander Bublik | Jannik Sinner | 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 French Open – QF | Jannik Sinner | Alexander Bublik | 6-1, 7-6, 6-0 |
| 2023 Halle Open – QF | Alexander Bublik | Jannik Sinner | 7-5, 2-0 (RET) |
| 2023 Libema Open – 2R | Jannik Sinner | Alexander Bublik | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2021 Miami Open – QF | Jannik Sinner | Alexander Bublik | 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2021 Dubai Tennis Championships – 2R | Jannik Sinner | Alexander Bublik | 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 |
So, if someone of Bublik’s calibre has given up his dream of winning a Grand Slam, what chance does everyone else have?
Part of what makes the major tournaments great is that whoever you are, you can make history.
Take the last two major tournaments, for example, a qualifier, Maja Chwalinska, made the final of the French Open, and British wild card Arthur Fery reached the Wimbledon semis.
But despite there being several examples of players upsetting the odds at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, Bublik and others appear to have given up.
In their defence, Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated the Grand Slam events over recent years.
The Spaniard and Italian have shared 10 of the last 11 majors between themselves.
Last 11 major winners (men’s singles)
- 2024 Australian Open – Jannik Sinner
- 2024 French Open – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024 Wimbledon – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024 US Open – Jannik Sinner
- 2025 Australian Open – Jannik Sinner
- 2025 French Open – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2025 Wimbledon – Jannik Sinner
- 2025 US Open – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2026 Australian Open – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2026 French Open – Alexander Zverev
- 2026 Wimbledon – Jannik Sinner
Germany’s Alexander Zverev is the only man to have won a Grand Slam singles title during Alcaraz and Sinner’s spell of dominance; however, he didn’t face either player en route to his Roland Garros triumph.
With that in mind, yes, it may seem almost impossible to win a major title in the modern game, but surely giving up can’t be the solution.
Tempering expectations makes sense to some degree, although if you don’t ‘believe’ you can win a Grand Slam, then the chances are you won’t.
Maybe it’s that mindset that has held so many back from reaching their full potential and challenging Alcaraz and Sinner, or Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer before them.
Alexander Bublik’s comments indicate which players are most likely to challenge for Grand Slams
Bublik and others might have given up, but that doesn’t mean Alcaraz and Sinner will dominate the Grand Slams for years to come.
The younger generation hasn’t yet developed the scar tissue from losing to the ‘big two’ time and time again, and still believes that they can one day win major titles.
Joao Fonseca and Rafael Jodar have impressed many this year, and they pushed Sinner, in particular, close at the Masters 1000 events.
The teenagers have bags of potential, and while they aren’t expected, or expecting to win Grand Slams just yet, they still have ambitions of doing just that.
You won’t hear Fonseca or Jodar say they’ve given up, and rightfully so.
If we are going to see a new Grand Slam winner on the men’s side anytime soon, don’t be surprised if it’s the Brazilian or the Spaniard…
