© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
Alexander Bublik has revealed a shocking reason for his abrupt 2022 Monte Carlo Masters mid-match retirement, saying he promised Pablo Carreno Busta to retire if he got broken in the third set.
In the 2022 Monte Carlo second round, Carreno Busta was 4-6 7-6 (3) 4-3 lead when Bublik left the court without an explanation. Before abruptly leaving the court, Carreno Busta blew a chance to serve out for the match at 5-4 in the second set.
“And it’s windy. Oh, my God, we’re playing. I’m doing some crazy like underarms. You know what I can do against Carreno? You know, it’s tough. He’s in form. It was last year. I think 2022. It doesn’t matter. So I’m playing. I’m leading 6-4. I’m breaking him the first game and then I have for the second break chances. Blah, blah, blah, blah. All this. 6-4, 5-4 I’m serving, we have couple of points,” Bublik said during the UTS dinner.
“He’s playing better than me, but I’m winning because I’m doing some crazy shots because of course he’s more stable than me. And then he’s breaking me. Then I have again chances at five all to break.
“Then there is a tiebreak. I’m leading the tiebreak. I’m losing the tiebreak at the end. We are crossing after the set. I’m pissed so much. And I’m telling him, if you break me in the third set. I walk off the court.”
Bublik: Carreno Busta broke me, I left the court
Bublik managed to keep his serve through the first six games of the third set. But after Carreno Busta claimed a break in the seventh game, Bublik decided that was it for the day.
“He broke me at three all. I shook his hand and walked off the court. I have to keep my word as well. I’m not sure if a lot of players would do that, would keep their word if they say so. You know what, honest guy, you know what my coach said?
“He said, like, you know, if you wouldn’t pulled out, I would not be happy with you. Because if you said you pull out, you pull out. Yeah, but until three. Three, he was like, I was fighting. I was fighting crazy,” Bublik added.
The ATP later reported that Bublik cited a shoulder injury and therefore wouldn’t be fined for his actions.
