Spending a double fault in an attempt to intentionally hit the opponent. Happened at the Masters 1000 in Madrid, where the second round match between Alexander Bublik And Roberto Carballes Baena it turned into a real bullfight. The show offered by the two was immediately booed by the public, with the Kazakh’s provocations and the Spaniard’s reaction out of place in a sport traditionally characterized by respect. The rivals had won a set each and Bublik was leading in the third 5-1, when the opponent, losing patience, he tried to hit it twice with a ball shot at over 190 kilometers per hour during his serve. A gesture of annoyance and frustration that the player was no longer able to contain. The Kazakh would then win the partial and the match 6-2, thus reaching the third round. But Baena’s madness was preceded by several irreverent behaviors on the part of his opponent.
Bublik’s provocation
Bublik has not yet put aside his now well-known theatrics. After the first two sets she provoked Carballes several times, in an attempt to unnerve him. On several occasions, in the opening of the exchange, the Kazakh deliberately imitated his opponent’s verses, even during the execution of blows which made such utterances unnecessary. Then, again in an exchange that was decisive for the fate of a match that was gradually slipping to the advantage of Bublik, the free “tweener”, a sensational shot with the ball impacting under his legs which completely stunned the Spaniard (after a series of shots thrown more for fun than with the intention of winning the point). The number 68 in the ATP ranking, already annoyed, then didn’t see us anymore, with the double serve very far from the rectangle and regardless of yet another point lost, just to teach a lesson to the disrespectful opponent. Bublik avoided the joke thrown with violence and widely drawn out, pretending nothing had happened and continuing to smile with irreverent irony.
This merciless sequence ended shortly after with the victory of the Kazakh who, instead of apologizing to Carballes, he started celebrating the success, ignoring his rival’s anger and blowing kisses to the people in the stands. A theatrical celebration that many did not like, also considering that Baena was playing in front of the home crowd. Bublik will now face the American Ben Shelton (number 15 in the world), in the first of the matches that will open the week and which will complete the draw of the round of 16 of the Madrid tournament. All waiting for Sinner, who will face the Russian Kotov.
