Bublik responds to Moutet’s pre-match taunts with Paris Masters win

Alexander Bublik (world No. 16) confidently defeated Corentin Moutet (No. 32) in the second round of the ATP 1000 Rolex Paris Masters (6-3, 7-5). Moutet had declared his intent to teach the Kazakhstani player a lesson and «send him home.» The outcome turned out to be the exact opposite.

Moutet only managed to anger Bublik. He forced the French opponent to play his pace — fast, sweeping and powerful — which proved too much for Moutet. Over two sets, Bublik allowed his opponent just one break point, which Moutet failed to convert.

Bublik himself made two breaks — in the fourth game of the first set and the eleventh game of the second — and completed the match after an hour and 38 minutes: 6-3, 7-5. Ace count: 6-3, with a total of 73-62 points won.

After the match, Bublik didn’t miss the chance to troll Corentin, writing «on the way home» on a TV camera.

«He obviously talked too much before the match. He spoke too much. I had no choice but to punish him. He said he would do everything to send me home. So, it’s a good thing he lives in Paris and isn’t too far in a taxi,» Punto de Break cited Bublik as saying in his on-court interview.

According to Punto de Break, Corentin admitted that Bublik is a very good player, especially on indoor hard courts. However, he still doesn’t like the Kazakhstani’s behavior on court.

Bublik will play Taylor Fritz (No. 4) for a place in the quarterfinals. The American beat Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic (No. 103) in straight sets — 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 — and clinched his spot at the season-ending ATP Finals, which will be held in Turin from Nov. 9 to 16, immediately after the women’s event.

The head-to-head record between Fritz and Bublik stands at 3–3. However, Fritz has won the last three meetings, including their encounter at the 2024 Olympics in Paris (6-4, 6-4).