Bublik retires without warning against Carreno Busta in Monte-Carlo

Update: The ATP reports that Alexander had a shoulder injury, and he will not be fined for his retirement on Wednesday in Monte-Carlo.

There was a bizarre, anti-climactic finish to Pablo Carreno Busta’s 4-6, 7-6(3), 4-3 RET victory over Alexander Bublik out Court No 9 on Wednesday in Monte-Carlo. Bublik, who failed to serve out the match when he had the chance at 5-4 in the second set, simply quit the match after being broken in the seventh game of the third set.

The 36th-ranked Kazakh didn’t call for a trainer or show any signs of injury – just like that hands were shaken and he was gone.

It’s the second time in two months that we have seen a player retire from a match without calling a physio on court. The other was Victoria Azarenka, who retired in Miami against Linda Fruhvirtova in the third round, and later took to social media to explain herself and apologize for her decision.

“I shouldn’t have gone on the court today,” Azarenka said.

Bublik – I hate clay

Bublik has made it apparent that he doesn’t enjoy playing on the red clay time and time again, despite the fact that he owns a respectable 10-13 lifetime record on the surface, with two top-15 wins. He reminded fans of this fact in an interview on Monday, after he defeated former Roland-Garros champion Stan Wawrinka in three sets to reach the second round.

He was asked about his “statement win”.

“I wish the clay would end soon and I would be going over to grass,” he said. “That’s all I can say. Nothing about the match, nothing about the performance because there was no match from my side, you could see that. I mean, I hate clay. It’s the statement, guys— I hate this surface.”

Bublik sarcasm – “best surface in the world”

After clumsily failing to convert on a game point aginst Carreno Busta in the fateful seventh game of the third set, Bublik let his frustration show.

“Best surface in the world, I love it,” he said to no one in particular.

He then double-faulted twice in succession and headed to the net to shake hands, the small crowd groaning its disapproval.

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