"I never aimed to win a Grand Slam," admits Bublik after his quarterfinal defeat at Roland Garros

World No. 62 Alexander Bublik had an outstanding run at Porte d’Auteuil. During this 2025 Roland Garros, the Kazakh player reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career, notably defeating Alex De Minaur in the second round (after losing the first two sets) and Jack Draper.

However, on Wednesday, the challenge proved too great for Bublik, who faced an impressive Jannik Sinner (6-1, 7-5, 6-0). In the post-match press conference, the player was asked about whether he would change his approach to Majors in the future after proving he could be a threat in big tournaments.

"Why should I change what’s working well? It’s very simple for me. I had no expectations for clay-court tournaments. But in the end, this is the best clay season of my career, and it’s had a positive impact on my ranking (now 43rd in the Live rankings).

I hope this is the start of something positive and that I can climb back up, maybe into the top 20. I never set out to win a Grand Slam. I’ve never even thought about it for a single second. It’s not about whether it’s possible or impossible—I just never wanted it.

For me, tennis is an adventure. It’s an important part of my life, but reaching the quarterfinals here is an achievement to hang on the wall. I’ve won ATP 250s, an ATP 500, and titles on multiple surfaces. This is another step.

I’ve made a Grand Slam quarterfinal, so there are three more left to play. It would be fun if I manage to achieve that. If not, it won’t be a big deal. These are small steps I’d like to take.

Maybe one day I’ll win a Masters 1000 or play a final in that kind of tournament. When I look back on the 15 or 20 years I’ll have spent on the tour, I’ll be able to say, ‘Okay, with my body and my tennis, what did I accomplish?’ That’s how I’ll approach things. But as long as things are working, I don’t see myself changing.

I also place a lot of importance on my family life, my role as a husband and father. And if in the next 10 years, I’m just a top 50 or top 60 player, that’s completely fine with me," Bublik told Tennis Actu TV media.