European Open: Bublik too good for Fils, wins third title

Alexander Bublik has won his third career title, beating Frenchman Arthur Fils, the No 4 seed, 6-4, 6-4 to lift the European Open trophy at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp on Sunday afternoon.

The title is Bublik’s second of 2023, with the Kazakh putting in another impressive performance in Antwerp, winning for the third time in straight sets.

Key for the No 3 seed in defeating Fils was his continued domination on serve. Despite Bublik making 11 double faults, when he landed his first serve, it was virtually unreturnable. Bublik won 36 of 37 first serve points, saving all three break points he faced and breaking his opponent once in each set.

Steady hand by Bublik sees Kazakh win second title of the season

Alexander Bublik is by far one of the hardest characters to understand on the ATP Tour.

After winning his semi-final match yesterday, the Kazakh confessed to having played FIFA with his coach until 3am the night before. Now, after defeating Fils in the final of the European Open, Bublik revealed he didn’t believe he would ever win another title in his career.

“Honestly, when we won the second title with my coach, I said maybe that’s it, maybe I won’t win any more,” said Bublik on-court after his victory. “Being here and winning this title means the world to me.”

Despite his relaxed approach earlier in the week, Bublik was all business here in the European Open final. Breaks in the fifth game of the first set and first game of the second set were all that the world No 36 needed to claim the match, winning 71 percent of his service points overall and crushing 28 winners to just 16 errors.

“I was very lucky to beat him in a final before he became the next big thing,” Bublik remarked of 19-year-old Fils, who was vying for his second career title after winning in Lyon earlier this year.

Ahead of his victory, Bublik, ranked No 36, defeated Frenchman Gregoire Barrere (6-4, 6-2), French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (6-4, 4-6, 6-2) and German qualifier Maximilian Marterer (6-4, 6-4).

Fils, ranked No 38, beat Estonian wildcard Mark Lajal (7-6 (4), 7-6 (2)), Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas, the No 8 seed (6-0, 6-3) and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the top seed (7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)) earlier in the tournament.

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