Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player, Alexander Bublik, reached the world’s top 10 for the first time in his career after winning the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026.
The 28-year-old from Gatchina, Russia, representing Kazakhstan since 2016, climbed one spot in the rankings by moving past Jack Draper, whom Bublik defeated in the 2025 French Open round of 16. At the 2026 Australian Open, the Kazakhstani athlete will be seeded 10th.
There were no other changes among the world’s top-ranked players. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner lead the rankings. On Jan. 10, they played an exhibition event in Incheon, South Korea, with Alcaraz winning 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) in 1 hour 48 minutes.
It’s worth noting that this is Bublik’s best result, though he has defeated top 10 players. To date, he has 16 such victories, including one over Sinner, who was world No. 1 at the time.
Bublik plans to train in the week before the 2026 Australian Open. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s second-ranked player, Alexander Shevchenko, is competing at the ATP 250 Adelaide International, having advanced through qualifying. He will face Bosnia’s Damir Džumhur (World No. 66) in the main draw, after defeating Spain’s Carlos Taberner (98) 6-3, 6-2 and Austria’s Filip Misolic (82) 7-5, 6-3.
There were no changes in the men’s doubles top 10. Leading doubles players have yet to stand out early in the season.
