Jannik Sinner’s road to Wimbledon took an unexpected detour as the world No. 1 crashed out of the 2025 Halle Open with a shocking three-set loss to Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, ranked 45th in the world. Bublik pulled off the upset of the tournament with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win, marking Sinner’s worst defeat by ranking since August 2023 and ending his impressive 66-match winning streak against players outside the Top 20.
Sinner, who had comfortably beaten Bublik at Roland Garros just weeks earlier before narrowly losing the final to Carlos Alcaraz, looked out of sorts on the fast grass courts of Halle. Despite taking the first set with relative ease, Sinner couldn’t maintain momentum as Bublik dialed in on his serve and showcased crafty shot-making to unsettle the defending champion.
Speaking after the match, Bublik said, “I had never beaten a world No. 1 before—this is special. I just kept serving strong and tried to put him in tough positions. I had a few chances and I executed them well.” The Kazakh, known for his unpredictable style and humor, later went viral on social media with his tongue-in-cheek post: “I did it, guys,” referencing his earlier Roland Garros joke after losing to Sinner.
This loss could cost Sinner 450 ATP ranking points, although his No. 1 status remains secure for now, thanks to a dominant second half of 2024 which included titles at the US Open, Cincinnati Masters, Shanghai Masters, and ATP Finals. Still, the defeat raises concerns about Sinner’s grass-court readiness ahead of Wimbledon, where expectations will be sky-high.
Bublik’s win makes him the only player besides Carlos Alcaraz to defeat Sinner in the last ten months, underscoring just how rare a feat this was. For Sinner, the focus now shifts to Wimbledon, but with minimal grass-court practice under his belt, his title hopes may hinge on how quickly he adapts. For Bublik, the grass season is off to a dream start—one that’s already captured fans both on court and online.
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