WATCH: Alexander Bublik ignores opponent and refuses handshake after Paris Masters win
NewsTuesday, 28 October 2025 at 00:00
Alexander Bublik refused to shake hands with Alexei Popyrin after their 2025 Paris Masters clash because he was enraged by his behavior during the match.
Bublik is trying to mark his landmark season with a deep run in Paris. The Kazakhstani won four titles, including the 2025 Halle Open, reached the French Open quarterfinals, and is ranked No. 16, a career high.
After winning his most recent event, last month's 2025 Hangzhou Open, he had a realistic chance of qualifying for the 2025 ATP Finals, but those hopes evaporated when he failed to win a match in Beijing and Shanghai.
That means Bublik can play with more freedom at the Paris Masters. He was given a potentially challenging opening-round match against fellow big server and last year's Canadian Open champion Alexei Popyrin.
Bublik made light work of the Australian, triumphing 6-4, 6-3 after a clinical display. The four-time champion in 2025 took three of five break point chances, which is an excellent ratio against a server as good as Popyrin.
Usually, it is easiest for the winner to shake hands at the net, but Bublik provided a twist. The video below shows him shaking hands with the umpire and walking straight past Popyrin before thanking the crowd.
A few of the fans on Court 1 booed Bublik after watching him ignore Popyrin. They were probably confused by his behavior after winning the match and thought he was being unpleasant without a good reason.
Bublik explained his actions in an interview with Championat. The world No. 16 said he was unhappy that Popyrin did not apologize for two net cords, which is against usual tennis etiquette, and thought he would do the same by not shaking hands.
"Well, precisely because if someone hangs two ropes and doesn't apologize, but celebrates as if they've won something... I just don't see anything wrong with that. I think any reasonable person would have done the same in my place, that is, if I had ever done the same. They can celebrate and then apologize."
"I'm not the kind of person to cling to that, but they apologize for it. There's a code, there's some kind of etiquette. If someone doesn't adhere to it, why should I adhere to another?"
Bublik is right that Popyrin's behavior in those two moments was contrary to how players usually act. Whether they mean it or not, most ATP and WTA players acknowledge getting some good fortune by raising a hand to the opponent.
Read also
There have been other fiery moments in 2025
At the 2025 Bad Homburg Open, Maria Sakkari was infuriated by Yulia Putintseva's behavior. The Greek told her notoriously fiery opponent that the other players disliked her and talked about not respecting the 30-year-old as a person in a post-match interview.
At the 2025 Miami Open, Mirra Andreeva claimed that Amanda Anisimova stopped during her service game as a disruption. The two-time Grand Slam runner-up then released a video showing her blister afterward.
Players sometimes become frustrated with umpires. Carlos Alcaraz repeatedly accused Irish official Fergus Murphy of never playing tennis in his life after being given a time violation during the 2025 Japan Open final.
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