Alex de Minaur blows lead over Alexander Bublik to crash out of French Open

In just under three hours Alex de Minaur showed every reason why he could, and every reason why he won’t, win a grand slam title, after crashing out of the French Open in a second round shock.

In just under three hours of tennis Alex de Minaur showed every reason why he could, and every reason why he won’t, win a grand slam title.

When the great Aussie grinder is playing near perfect tennis, as he did in the first 64 minutes to race to a two set lead over Alexander Bublik in their French Open second round clash, he looks like a champion in the making.

But when bumbling Bublik turned into the Kazakh Kyrgios, it was another case of de Minaur having absolutely no answer to a supreme power game.

The world No.9 might be the fastest greyhound on tour, but not even he could chase down the bombs being unleashed by the towering Kazakhstan world No.62.

Alex de Minaur has crashed out of the French Open in the second round. Picture: Getty Images

When Bublik sealed the fourth set with a cheeky Nick Kyrgios style tweener, followed by a thunderous backhand down the line, you just knew this was going to be another missed opportunity for de Minaur.

“That is why they call him the Kazakh Kyrgios,” Thanasi Kokkinakis said in commentary.

“He has played two flawless sets of tennis. Demon needs to do something to mix it up.

“The last two sets have been silly.

“We have not seen Bublik produce this level for some time.

“You can hear the noise off the racquet, it is pure ball striking.”

Bublik then immediately broke de Minaur’s shaky serve to start the fifth set and hardly dropped a point on his own serve on the way to a 2-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-2 victory in two hours and 51 minutes.

Alexander Bublik.

On set point.

The one and only. pic.twitter.com/3A47VuT8SS

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 29, 2025

The defeat ends a run of four straight quarter-final appearances for de Minaur in grand slams and this defeat, it will hurt.

He looked to be coasting towards a quick kill, the type of win that saves your legs in a two-week grand slam marathon, but the tide quickly turned in the third set as Bublik found his range.

The serves started landing. The heavy ground strokes became winners. Bublik had never taken a set off the Aussie in three previous encounters, but suddenly he had belief and de Minaur’s plans for an early shower turned into a dogfight.

And this loss proves why de Minaur may never win a grand slam.

Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, nicknamed ‘Kazakh Kyrgios’ by Thanasi Kokkinakis, came back to defeat De Minaur in a five set epic. Picture: Getty Images

Without a booming serve or thundering forehand, de Minaur does not boast the weaponry to burst someone’s bubble when they’re on a roll. He cannot break the momentum.

If he can’t stop a world No.62 from steamrollering through him, how can he expect to stop someone like world No.1 Jannik Sinner?

Kokkinakis said the best asset of de Minaur’s game is his speed and ability to scramble. He forces his opponent “to play the perfect shot.”

But the best players simply play through him.

Originally published as Alex de Minaur blows lead over Alexander Bublik to crash out of French Open