Russian-born Alexander Bublik firmly believes that Wimbledon had every right to ban Russian and Belarusian players over the war in Ukraine.
In an open and honest conversation with Eurosport, Bublik, who now represents Kazakhstan, had no issue discussing the sensitive topic. He's built a reputation as a very honest player who speaks openly about everything without worrying about what others might think.
He recently made headlines when he publicly said that he hated clay. Now, in a more serious tone, Bublik commented on the recent ban of Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.
"I don't want to judge whether it's right or wrong, but I'll be happy to tell you what I think about it. It is a decision of the government and the organisers. You have the right to do so."
He also added that, ideally, he would like to see the sport separated from politics as much as possible, which, in some cases, proved to be impossible.
"For me, sport is also a distraction from normal life, if you will - and no sport should be mixed up too much with politics. It's all about getting comfortable with a beer in front of the TV and following your favourite player or team. It's a shame for the fans that this is only possible to a limited extent."
Bublik is only the second player born in Russia to accept the ban after Daria Kasatkina said earlier in the week that there are more important things going on than a tennis event banning players from it.
His stance is also interesting because Bublik gave up his Russian citizenship six years ago and switched allegiance to Kazakhstan because of better conditions. He famously said then that nobody cared for Bublik in Russia, and he reiterated his allegiance once more.
"I no longer have a Russian passport because two nationalities are not allowed. I have no connection with the tennis association in Russia. I'm Kazakh and I've been playing for the country for almost six years."
"I am proud to represent Kazakhstan. In the Davis Cup, at the Asian Games or at the Olympic Games."
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