Bublik secures first match win in 2026

Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik (World No. 11) secured the first victory of 2026 at the ATP 250 Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026. He defeated the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp (75) 6-3, 6-3.

The head-to-head score was 2-1 in favor of the Dutchman before the match. Up to 3-3, the players held serve confidently. Alexander fought hard to hold his next service game from 15-40, then secured a break to move ahead 5-3 and converted his second set point to take the set. After breaking serve twice in the second set, Bublik won the match in 1 hour and 10 minutes. He finished with 12-8 in aces and 63-47 in total points won.

In the quarterfinals, Bublik is scheduled to face China’s 20-year-old Shang Juncheng (406), who received a wild card from the organizers and has not dropped a set so far. He defeated Argentina’s Francisco Comesana (66) 6-4, 6-4 and Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego (30) 6-3, 6-4. Shang has faced Bublik three times, winning twice.

The Hong Kong Tennis Open, previously known as the Salem Open, was held on hard courts from 1973 to 2002. After a hiatus of more than 20 years, the tournament resumed in January 2024.