Tennis player Alexander Bublik, currently ranked world No. 62, has shed light on the reasons behind his recent dip in the rankings. This explanation comes after he reached the fourth round of Roland Garros for the first time in his career.
Reflecting on whether the ranking drop served as a necessary wake-up call to reach a new level, Bublik said that if he could advise his past self from the time he reached world No. 17 (a career high he never expected), he would tell himself to take a break for a few weeks.
After achieving the No. 17 spot, he attempted to become a “more professional soldier” – intensifying training, focusing on nutrition, and cutting back on leisure activities. He observed that many top players seem like “robots” with incredible results, and he aimed to emulate that.
However, this highly disciplined approach didn`t yield the expected results. Bublik admitted that his slump wasn`t due to a lack of motivation or training; rather, he experienced burnout from constantly waiting for results that didn`t come. He questioned the sacrifices he was making and their purpose.
When his ranking fell to world No. 80, everything changed. His coach suggested they take a break, including a trip to Las Vegas between tournaments. His coach warned that if his performance continued, they would “simply disappear from tennis” by Wimbledon, as most of his points were tied to previous successes.
Bublik agreed to the Las Vegas trip. During this time, they relaxed, changed his racket, and made other adjustments. He adopted a new mindset, telling himself, “Okay, if it works out, it works out. If not, then thank you very much, tennis.”
Ultimately, this shift in perspective and approach proved successful, and his results began to improve.
