Alexander Bublik revealed that one of his primary motivations for playing certain tennis events isn't to enjoy the game but to make money.
It is not the first time where Bublik has caused controversy in his responses this season. The Kazakhstani tennis player recently bucked the trend by speaking out in support of Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian players from the upcoming Grand Slam in 2022.
Now, looking ahead to the 2022 Madrid Open, Bublik has raised eyebrows again by stating that he plays tennis for financial gain rather than for enjoyment. Speaking ahead of this season's Madrid Open, the Russian-born player said that he dislikes playing on clay and simply does so to earn money.
"Yes, I confirm the words of the last few weeks. I don't like clay but I will be present in Madrid, Rome and Paris. I play to earn money in the end I play tennis for it. In addition, events like Madrid and Rome are mandatory, so being a professional tennis player I have no choice and I have to participate."
Despite sharing his lack of enjoyment for playing on clay surfaces, Bublik has been a regular at such events during the 2022 season. So far this campaign, the Kazakhstani has played at the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open in April.
However, Bublik had little success at both competitions. The 25-year-old was knocked out in the second round after retiring against Pablo Carreno Busta in Monte Carlo. Then, he fell at the same stage at the Barcelona Open, where he received a first-round bye before losing to Emil Ruusuvuori in round two.
Moreover, Bublik's ATP and final records since 2019 show that he plays best tennis on surfaces that are alternative to clay. In his career so far, the Kazakhstani player has reached four finals in ATP events, three of which were played on hard surfaces and one on grass. Bublik won his first-ever ATP title in February at the Open Sud de France.