ATP Tour

Inspired Bublik downs Medvedev to recapture Halle crown

Alexander Bublik crowned his red-hot run of form with a title on Sunday, when the Kazakhstani overcame Daniil Medvedev to triumph at the Terra Wortmann Open.

The free-hitting Bublik delivered a typically showstopping display of shotmaking to prevail 6-3, 7-6(4) against Medvedev and recapture the Halle grass-court trophy that he previously lifted in 2023. Bublik, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros earlier this month, combined huge serving, powerful groundstrokes and crafty drop shots to great effect before sealing his first win in seven Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with Medvedev.

CHAMPION IN HALLE ONCE MORE 🏆

2023 champ Bublik captures the title yet again, defeating Medvedev 6-3 7-6(4)#ATPHalle pic.twitter.com/5VEqaIz9Qg

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 22, 2025

Bublik’s win against Medvedev was the latest chapter in a remarkable mid-season upturn for the Kazakhstani. Prior to his final run at the Phoenix 175 Challenger in March, he had lost 18 of his previous 22 matches. After Phoenix, he reached the fourth round at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid before putting together his Roland Garros quarter-final run and now his Halle triumph.

“It’s tough to speak. I had such tough months since last Wimbledon to probably this summer,” said Bublik, who was outside the Top 75 of the PIF ATP Rankings as recently as last month but will on Monday rise to No. 30. “I was close to calling it quits after Wimbledon, because I was not enjoying it anymore.

"I promised my coach that I would stay there and keep practising, and after Wimbledon we will make a decision about whether I need to take a couple of months off before trying to come back. Now this is happening. I don’t know. Quarters at the French, winner here. I have no words.”

The 27-year-old Bublik, who upset World No. 1 and 2024 titlist Jannik Sinner in the second round, is just the fourth player in the 32-year history of the Halle event to claim the title more than once, after Roger Federer (10 titles), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (three titles) and Tommy Haas (two titles).

After serve dominated the early stages of the final inside OWL Arena, Bublik put together a stunning 12-point winning streak to race to the opening set. He rallied from 0/30 to hold for 4-3 and then produced a remarkable return game in which he appeared to strike every shot with as much power as he could muster. That included a rapid down-the-line backhand to clinch the first break of the match to love.

Watch Brilliant Bublik Hot Shot:

Having served out for the opening set, Bublik’s level dropped slightly in the second, and he undermined his efforts by hitting five double faults after he had produced none in the first set. Yet just as Medvedev appeared set to force a decider after forging a 4/1 lead in the tie-break, he uncharacteristically produced consecutive backhand errors to drop both points on his serve from 4/3. With the momentum behind him, Bublik made no mistake in claiming the two points he needed behind serve to complete an 81-minute victory.

“From the mental point of view, that’s the toughest match I ever played in my life,” said Bublik, who had won just one set in his six previous tour-level meetings with Medvedev. “I have never beaten Daniil. He’s a super tough player to play, especially with my gamestyle, and today everything clicked in mentally and physically. That’s one of the wins of my career and I’m really humbled to stay here and enjoy the moment.”

Bublik finished the match having won 79 per cent (38/48) of points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He is now a five-time ATP Tour champion after claiming a trophy for the first time since February 2024 in Montpellier.

With his defeat to Bublik, former World No. 1 Medvedev’s wait for his 21st tour-level title goes on. The 29-year-old has nonetheless risen four spots to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin after reaching his first final since Indian Wells in March 2024.