Aleksandr Bublik's denied tweener: The (almost) magic of Indian Wells 2026
It was supposed to be a classic Aleksandr Bublik tweener moment... well, not quite. At Indian Wells 2026, he gave it a crack. The only problem? Kopriva was on the other side of the net, and he's not one for party tricks. The Kazakh, famous for his circus-like shot-making, tried to pull off a 'tweener to save the point, but the Czech player read it like a book and rifled a passing shot right past him, silencing the crowd. The California desert held its breath for a second, then erupted in applause for both: for Bublik's audacity and Kopriva's cool head.
The moment that's about to go viral
We were right there in the stands when Aleksandr Bublikov – as his mates call him – came up with that bit of brilliance. Under the pump on the baseline, instead of playing it safe, he opened his stance and went for the shot between the legs. It felt like something from an exhibition, but this was a crucial break point. Kopriva, however, didn't buy the dummy: he read the play and smoked a forehand down the line. The result? A lost point, but an instant cult classic. Because that's Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Bublikov, class of '97, for you: a showman who's not afraid to have a dip.
Why we're here for Bublik (flaws and all)
If you follow the tour, you know: Aleksandr Bublik is the ultimate anti-hero. A world away from the robots running on autopilot, he plays on instinct, serving up pure entertainment. Here are three things that make him a one-off:
- The tweener that wasn't: He missed it at Indian Wells, but he's pulled off some legendary ones throughout his career. It's still his signature move.
- The thunderbolt serve: When that first serve lands, it's a missile. Against Kopriva, he fired one down at 220 km/h that nearly tore a hole in the net.
- The self-deprecation: After the longest rally of the match – which Kopriva won with a cheeky drop shot – Bublik just laughed, like he was filing it away for later.
In a world of programmed athletes, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Bublikov is the last of the humans: he stuffs up, but he attempts things no one else dares to. And that, folks, is what reminds us why we love this sport.
What's next after Indian Wells?
The Kazakh will leave the Coachella Valley tournament without any regrets. He's already gearing up for the next challenge, probably on grass, his favourite surface. Doesn't matter if he wins or loses; he'll keep serving up the outrageous shots, making us laugh, and getting our hearts racing. Maybe next tournament he'll have another crack at that tweener, and maybe this time it'll come off. We'll be there, glued to the screens, waiting for his next bit of magic.