NEW YORK — In a post-match press conference that sent shockwaves through the tennis world, Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik, the mercurial and often controversial star, launched a blistering verbal assault on the state of professional doubles, claiming his rivals in the two-on-two discipline "don't play real tennis."
The explosive comments came on the heels of Bublik's first-round victory in the US Open singles draw, where he defeated four-time major champion Dominic Thiem. When a reporter asked for his thoughts on the current doubles landscape, Bublik, known for his candid and unfiltered opinions, did not hold back, dismissing the entire specialty as a lesser form of the sport he loves.
Bublik's Scathing Assessment
Bublik, who has dabbled in doubles throughout his career with moderate success, including one ATP Tour title, framed his critique around the perceived lack of athletic and strategic depth in the game. "It's a different sport, honestly," he stated, leaning into the microphone. "You stand at the net, you try to poach, you hit a volley. There is no long rally. There is no physicality. There is no building of a point. It's just serve and first volley. For me, this is not real tennis."
He went even further, suggesting the format is a comfortable refuge for singles players who can no longer cut it on the main tour. "You see many guys who are 30, 35, they cannot run anymore in singles, so they go to doubles. They serve, they stay at the net, they don't move. It's easier. It's not the real grind of the tour."
The Backlash from the Doubles Community
Unsurprisingly, Bublik's comments were met with swift and fierce condemnation from dedicated doubles professionals. World No. 1 and reigning US Open doubles champion Rajeev Ram responded on social media, writing: "Easy to have an opinion on something you’ve never dedicated your life to. The timing, precision, and teamwork at this level is something very few will ever understand."
Veteran Mike Bryan, one half of the most successful doubles team in history with his brother Bob, offered a more measured but pointed rebuttal. "Everyone's entitled to their opinion, even if it's misinformed. The game requires a different, highly specialized skill set. The reflexes, the hands, the split-second decisions—it's a different kind of difficult."
Many current players highlighted the immense physical demands of the game, which Bublik seemingly dismissed. The need for explosive reactions at the net, the constant lateral movement, and the intense, quick-fire points place a unique strain on the body, particularly the core and lower back from the constant bending and lunging for volleys.
What Makes Doubles "Real" Tennis?
The debate over the purity of doubles versus singles is an old one, but Bublik's comments have reignited it with fresh intensity. Purists argue that doubles is the original form of tennis, hearkening back to the game's roots. They point to several key elements that define it as a legitimate and challenging discipline:
- Strategic Complexity: The geometry of the court changes completely.
- Teams must employ complex formations like "I-formation" and "Australian" to disrupt serve returns.
- The communication and synergy between two players add a layer singles cannot replicate.
- Net Play Mastery: Doubles is won and lost at the net.
- It demands flawless volleying technique, lightning-fast reflexes, and exceptional hand-eye coordination.
- Pressure Handling: With three players at the net in most points,
- the margin for error is minuscule, and the pressure on every shot is immense.
Conversely, Bublik's viewpoint represents a significant portion of the singles-centric tour who see the baseline, grinding rallies as the ultimate test of tennis fitness, skill, and mental fortitude. The ability to construct points over several shots, to outlast an opponent physically from the back of the court, is, in their eyes, the definitive version of the sport.
A History of Undervaluing Doubles
Bublik's outburst is symptomatic of a long-standing issue within the professional tennis structure, where doubles has often played second fiddle to singles. This is reflected in several ways:
- Prize Money: Doubles purses are a fraction of those in singles, despite the revenue generated from two players.
- Court Assignments: Doubles matches are frequently relegated to outer courts with limited seating and media coverage.
- Broadcast Time: Television coverage often focuses exclusively on singles, with doubles highlights being a rare commodity.
This systemic undervaluing has created a environment where a top singles player like Bublik feels empowered to publicly delegitimize the careers of specialists who have chosen to focus on doubles. For every doubles team that packs a stadium court at a tournament like the US Open, there are dozens of professionals grinding for recognition and a sustainable living.
Where Does the Sport Go From Here?
The immediate fallout from Bublik's comments is likely to be a deeper rift between the singles and doubles contingents on tour. However, it also presents an opportunity for a broader conversation about the place of doubles in the modern game. Tennis authorities like the ATP and WTA have made efforts in recent years to better integrate and promote doubles, but incidents like this show there is still a long way to go.
The hope among many is that this controversy will ultimately shine a brighter light on the incredible skill and entertainment value that top-level doubles provides. Matches featuring teams like Ram/Salisbury, Koolhof/Skupski, and Dabrowski/Routliffe are often breathtaking displays of athleticism, teamwork, and shot-making that can win over any skeptic—if given the chance.
For now, Alexander Bublik has certainly made his position clear. Whether his views are seen as a brutal honesty or a disrespectful dismissal, they have undeniably sparked a fiery debate about what constitutes "real tennis" at the highest level.