Top 10 debutant Bublik ends Melbourne drought to secure first AO win in four years
Alexander Bublik secured his first Australian Open victory since 2022 on Sunday night, dismantling Jenson Brooksby in straight sets to extend his undefeated start to the 2026 season.
January 15, 2026, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 15 2026: Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan plays Bu Yunchaokete of China on Day 3 of the 2026 Kooyong Classic on January 15, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.
Fresh off his historic breakthrough into the world’s Top 10, Alexander Bublik proved why he is currently playing the most consistent tennis of his career with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over American Jenson Brooksby.
The Kazakh, who entered as the No. 10 seed, required just over two hours to navigate a potentially tricky opening round. Despite a few nervous moments in the third set where Brooksby attempted to lengthen the rallies, Bublik remained disciplined, relying on his massive serve and improved baseline patience to secure his first win at Melbourne Park in four years.
The victory marks a milestone for the 28-year-old, as it represents his first-ever Grand Slam win as a member of the elite Top 10. Bublik has been the standout performer of the early 2026 season, arriving in Melbourne with a 5-0 record after clinching the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open title last week (defeating Lorenzo Musetti 7-6, 6-3 in the final).
Bublik : “biggest tennis of my life”
His rise has been meteoric; as recently as April 2025, he was ranked No. 80, but a run of five titles in the last eight months – including Gstaad, Halle, and Hangzhou – has made him the first Kazakhstani man in history to crack the Top 10.
In a candid post-match interview with James Blake, Bublik stayed true to his “maverick” reputation when asked about his upcoming two days off. “Well, I’m not a big practice guy, as you may know,” Bublik joked to the delight of the Margaret Court Arena crowd.
“Of course, you’ve gotta prepare and keep your body fit, but I just hope I’m not gonna be scheduled at 11 am.” Currently playing the “biggest tennis of his life,” Bublik now advances to the second round where he will face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, who defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli earlier in the day.
