Bublik of Kazakhstan shocks at opening of Australian Open

KAZINFORM - ASTANA Kazinform has gathered through Sports.kz that Kazakhstan's world number 36 Alexander Bublik lost in the first round of the men's singles competition at the 2023 Australian Open.

The 32nd-ranked Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Bublik in a five-set thriller that lasted 3 hours, 12 minutes.

The Spaniard destroyed Bublik in the opening set, 6-0, but Bublik prevailed in the following two sets, 7-6, 6-3. The match's outcome was decided in the fourth and fifth sets, when Davidovich Fokina defeated the Kazakh player 6-4, 6-3. Bublik hit 20 aces during the game, compared to his opponent's seven.

The American Tommy Paul will be up next for the Spaniard.

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in their respective first matches 7-5, 6-3, as it was previously announced. In the second-round encounter, the Kazakhstani will compete against the Slovenian Kaja Juvan.

Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva is also anticipated to launch her AO 2023 campaign today in Melbourne.

Source: kazinform