Alexander Bublik talks tattoos, ranking rollercoaster after Miami win

Alexander Bublik is done getting tattoos.

“I think this chapter of my life has ended,” said Bublik, who sports a sleeve of ink on his right arm. “This is something I have to respect because all these tattoos were made in tough or happy moments of my childhood or my youth, let’s say between 16 and 20 years old. I did them because I felt it’s important. Would I do it now? I don’t know, but I have to respect that guy 10 years ago that was struggling, maybe was very happy, and he was doing that.”

Bublik is also done with losing—at least for the time being. The former world No. 17 bottomed out at No. 82 earlier this month, compiling a 4-18 record after making the third round of last year’s Wimbledon Championships, but he’s back on the upswing thanks to a runner-up finish at the Phoenix Challenger last week.

I don’t care if you can serve better than me if you’re a bad human being. Alexander Bublik

“If you asked me last year at the US Open if I would be No. 80 in the world, I would have laughed at you,” Bublik told Tennis Channel after a first-round Miami Open win over Sebastian Baez. “But that’s life. Maybe I took all a bit too relaxed when I was at the top. But it’s not affecting me, which I’m happy about.

“You’d go crazy going up and down like a rollercoaster. You’re No. 17, then you’re No. 80, then you’re No. 15, you’ll go crazy. At 35, you’re bald and you can’t do anything anymore.”

Bublik brought his inimitable worldview to the TC Desk, asserting emphatically that no positives can be taken from a loss and throwing shade at players who behave differently based on their ranking.

“I always wondered how someone could feel better than someone else because they can hit a better forehand?” he mused. “That’s complete nonsense, in my opinion. I don’t care if you can serve better than me if you’re a bad human being, if you’re annoying or boring, or even if you’re nice. For me, human is a human, a friend is a friend. Everyone here, to me, is the same whether they’re winning or losing.

“The change of behavior with some players always makes me laugh when you see them shaking your hands, laughing, and they go up 30 spots and they’re like…” he trails off, scoffing. “Then imagine, for me, Roger [Federer] needs to fly, like Jesus on the water.”

At No. 17 or No. 80, Bublik is very much the same person—for better or, according to some players, for worse.

“Tennis doesn’t affect me as a human being,” insists Bublik, who will next face No. 12 seed Tommy Paul, the very player who beat him last year at Wimbledon. “I’m not feeling more confident in life if I’m No. 17 in the world, or less confident if I’m No. 80 in the world. It’s not affecting me, so tennis is a part of my life, which I enjoy. I dreamed of being a tennis player and I respect it a lot, but it’s not me. I’m just a tennis player.

“I don’t care if I win or lose, I’m still the same Bublik for my family, the same father, the same friend, and I have the same values for myself.”

Watch Bublik’s full interview with Prakash Amritraj for his thoughts on doubles and whether he'll play mixed with Elena Rybakina at the 2025 US Open.