Aleksandr Bublik's Denied Tweener: The Magic That Almost Was at Indian Wells 2026

Once upon a time, there was Aleksandr Bublik's tweener... actually, no—at Indian Wells 2026, there was an attempt. Too bad on the other side of the net stood Kopriva, a guy who doesn't appreciate jokes. The Kazakh, known for his circus-like shots, tried to save himself with a between-the-legs shot, but the Czech read it all the way and replied with a surgical passing shot that stunned the crowd. The Californian desert held its breath for a moment, then erupted in applause for both: for Bublik's courage and Kopriva's coolness.

The Moment That Will Go Viral

We were there, sitting in the stands, when Aleksandr Bublikov—as his closest friends call him—came up with that madness. Under pressure on the baseline, instead of playing it safe, he opened his legs and hit the ball backward. It looked like one of those exhibition stunts, but this was a crucial break point. Kopriva, however, didn't fall for the trap: he anticipated the trajectory and nailed him with a down-the-line forehand. The result? A lost point, but an image destined to become iconic. Because Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Bublikov, born in 1997, is like that: a juggler who's not afraid to make mistakes.

Why We Love Bublik (Despite Everything)

Those who follow the tour know it: Aleksandr Bublik is the ultimate anti-star. Far from the robots who repeat the same patterns, he plays by instinct, gifting us moments of pure spectacle. Here are three things that make him unique:

• The missed tweener: He failed at Indian Wells, but in his career he's pulled off legendary ones. It remains his trademark.
• Otherworldly serve: When his first serve lands, it looks like a missile. In that match against Kopriva, he placed one at 137 mph (220 km/h) that made the net cord whistle.
• The irony: After the longest rally of the match—won by Kopriva with a drop shot—Bublik started laughing, as if to say, "I'll remember this one."

In a world of programmed athletes, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Bublikov is the last of the humans: he makes mistakes, but he tries things no one else dares. And that, dear readers, is what makes us fall in love with tennis.

What's Next After Indian Wells?

The Kazakh will leave the tournament in the Coachella Valley without regrets. He's already preparing for the next challenge, likely on grass, his favorite surface. It doesn't matter if he wins or not: he'll keep treating us to outrageous shots, making us laugh, and making our hearts race. Maybe at the next tournament, he'll try that tweener again, and maybe this time he'll pull it off. We'll be there, glued to the screen, waiting for his next magic.