Alexander Bublik pulled off one of the French Open’s biggest surprises, defeating fifth seed Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to reach his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal. The 27-year-old Kazakh, ranked 62 in the world, dismantled Draper’s hopes with a dazzling mix of power, drop shots, and nerves of steel, especially in the tense closing games.
Draper, the top British player and a favorite for a deep run, started strong by taking the first set. But Bublik’s unpredictable style and relentless shot-making quickly turned the match. Draper struggled to adapt, losing composure as Bublik took control, particularly with his signature drop shots and timely aces.
The final set saw Bublik withstand a late surge from Draper, saving five break points before finally closing out the match and making history as the first Kazakh man to reach a French Open quarterfinal Bublik now prepares for a high-stakes showdown against world No. Jannik Sinner, capping a dramatic turnaround in a season that once had him contemplating retirement.
