Alexander Bublik broke into the top 10 for the first \u200dtime in his career after defeating Lorenzo Musetti 7-6(2), 6-3 in the gritty Hong \u200bKong Open final on Sunday to start the new season.<\/p>\n
Bublik<\/a>, 28, continued his form from last year \u200cin which he triumphed in Halle, Gstaad, Kitzbuehel \u200cand Hangzhou following a dramatic turnaround that also saw the Kazakh player reach his first major quarter-final at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n “I have no words. The only \u2060goal for this season was to achieve the top \u200c10 and in the first week, I am winning the \u200btitle and I have made the top 10,” Bublik said.<\/p>\n “If you told me \u200dthat last April, I would have never believed you. For me standing here, it is a \u200dbig pleasure \u200cand I hope to continue in the same way.”<\/p>\n Both players started effectively behind serves with Bublik taking charge from the baseline, but his erroneous drop \u2060shots helped Musetti<\/a> maintain a close reach and pushed the first set to a tie-breaker.<\/p>\n Bublik dominated in volleys in the tie-breaker to take the first set, and then displayed tremendous speed and athleticism to counterattack against the Italian, who required treatment on his right arm as the match progressed.<\/p>\n