Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo: Bublik Triumphs and States with Disarming Honesty, 'I Expected Nothing Less Than Victory'

Turin, 18 May 2025 – Alexander Bublik has claimed the title at the Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo, defeating Yunchaokete Bu in the final with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory. The Kazakh, known for his flamboyant and unpredictable tennis, delivered a surprisingly composed and dominant performance, maintaining impeccable control of the match whilst still offering that touch of flair that defines him.

Bu, for his part, appeared slightly hampered by a minor physical issue, and Bublik’s solidity gave him no real chance to get into the match.

The Kazakh remained focused, allowing himself only a few smiles, but got the job done with pragmatic efficiency.

Afterwards, in his post-match interview, Bublik was candid: he said he was pleased to win, but didn’t believe this level of play was beyond him—he simply wanted to prove he could win consistently against players of this calibre. And considering the overall quality of the draw—far closer to an ATP 250 than a regular Challenger—his point felt well made.

Bublik Words

Alexander Bublik’s words after his Turin triumph once again confirm his disarming ability to be candid in all circumstances. “I expected nothing less than this: to win the tournament,” he declared in no uncertain terms. He is certainly not known for diplomacy, and his statements reaffirm this.

“The moment I decided to participate in the tournament and take a step back to the Challenger circuit,” Bublik explained, “I knew I could go all the way. I played at my usual level, I stayed solid throughout the tournament, although I struggled against Tomas (Etcheverry, beaten in the quarter-finals 7-5 in the third set, Ed.), who is also a former ATP top 30 player.” The winner of the third edition of the Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo then clarified his goal: “The objective for me was to return to the performance level I’ve had for most of my career, to get back to where I believe I belong. This is a step forward in the direction I want to maintain in the future.” Asked about his chances of success on clay as well, despite a game style that favours risk, Bublik had no hesitation: “I believe I have significant chances on every surface. I also believe I was a better player than the others taking part in the tournament, and my goal was to prove it.” Considering the confidence displayed, both in his actions and his words, the next logical step is to aim for victories at an even higher level.

“The step I expect is to do well in the upcoming tournaments, beat the best players in the world, and achieve prestigious results in major events,” he confirmed. Before the Paris major, there’s the Hamburg ATP 500, where Bublik will debut against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. “I won’t play before Tuesday, so I have some time to recover my energy. It will be another good challenge; he’s a quality player who has already won two tournaments recently (Lyon and Basel last year, Ed.), and it will be a good test to see where I am. These are the matches I’m looking for now to assess my form.”

Regarding Roland Garros and the rest of the season, Bublik’s vision is clear: “We’ll see how it goes. But right now, my priority is to be in good health, to be able to play consistently, and to continue enjoying myself on the tennis court. Then the results will come.” And entertainment will certainly not be lacking for the public, with whom Bublik – as seen in Rome and now in Turin – has developed a decidedly special bond.

The tournament as a whole was a great success: high-quality tennis, a charming venue, and organisation that struck a very professional note.