In a stunning upset at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany, Alexander Bublik defeated world No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Kazakhstani tennis star showcased an extraordinary performance, firing 36 winners, including 15 aces, to overpower Sinner in a thrilling three-set match that lasted just over two hours. This victory marks the biggest win of Bublik’s career, his first triumph over a top 2 player, and ends Sinner’s impressive streak of reaching at least the quarterfinals in his last eight tournaments.
The Terra Wortmann Open, an ATP 500 event played on grass, has been a significant stage for both players. Sinner, who won the title in Halle the previous year, entered the tournament as the top seed and a favorite to defend his crown. Bublik, the 2023 Halle champion, brought his own history of success on this surface, where his aggressive and unpredictable style thrives. Their past encounters added context to the matchup, with Sinner holding a 4-1 lead in their head-to-head record. Bublik’s only prior win over Sinner came in Halle two years ago, when the Italian retired due to injury.
The match began with Sinner taking the first set 6-3, leveraging his renowned baseline consistency. However, Bublik shifted gears in the second set, relying on his powerful serve and creative shot-making to level the score at 6-3. In the decisive third set, Bublik broke Sinner’s serve at a critical 4-3 juncture and sealed the match with a barrage of unreturnable serves. His 36 winners—shots that Sinner could not return—highlighted his dominance, with 15 aces underscoring his effectiveness on grass.
Bublik reflected on the significance of the win, stating, “We are tennis players and we try to win every match we play, but it is a special one. I had never beaten a No. 1 in the world. It is an accomplishment.” He also praised Sinner’s skill, adding, “He is an unbelievable player and I was not thinking that I could beat him.” Sinner, in turn, acknowledged Bublik’s prowess on grass, saying, “He’s a very talented player. He likes or loves playing on grass, which is his favourite surface. He has won against me here and also won the tournament, so it will be a very difficult game.”
This victory elevates Bublik’s record against top 10 players to 4-17 and reinforces his reputation as a grass-court specialist. For Sinner, the loss marks his first defeat to a player ranked outside the top 20 since August 2023, offering a rare setback for the world No. 1. As Bublik advances to the quarterfinals to face Tomas Machac, who earlier defeated Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 6-3, he carries momentum toward a potential second Halle title. Sinner, meanwhile, will look to rebound as the grass-court season continues, with Wimbledon on the horizon.
Bublik’s upset of Sinner underscores the excitement of grass-court tennis, where bold play and unpredictability can topple even the highest-ranked players. With this career-defining win, Bublik has firmly established himself as a force to watch in the weeks ahead.
