Alexander Bublik has been on fire on clay since May! After a Challenger title and the Roland Garros quarter-final, his first at Majors, the Kazakh has claimed two consecutive ATP 250 titles on the slowest surface.
Six days after winning in Gstaad, Alexander went all the way in Kitzbuhel following a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Arthur Cazaux in an hour and 24 minutes. Bublik overcame a slow start and break points.
He outplayed his rival in the closing stages of the set and claimed six of the final seven games in set number two en route to his third title of the season, standing closest to Carlos Alcaraz's five.
The Kazakh took 12 points more than the Frenchman. Alexander served at only 52% and sprayed seven double faults. However, he denied four of five break points and kept the pressure on the other side.
Cazaux also served at 52% and dropped41% of the points in his games. He played against seven break points and got broken three times to finish runner-up. The better-ranked player landed 26 winners and 33 unforced errors.
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Arthur had the upper hand in service winners and tamed his strokes nicely. However, he lost ground from the baseline and missed a chance to impose his shots and trouble his rival.
Bublik had to dig deep on serve in games three and five of the first set. He denied three break points and moved 3-2 up with a service winner. Arthur closed the sixth game after deuces and remained on the positive side.
The Frenchman had to dig deep in the eighth game. He saved three break points and held for 4-4 and more drama. Alexander landed a backhand down the line winner in the ninth game for 5-4 and made another push on the return in the next one.
World no. 30 attacked and converted a set point with a forced error, wrapping up the opener 6-4 in 51 minutes. Bublik missed a forehand in the first game of the second set, losing serve and falling 2-0 behind.
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The Kazakh pulled the break back in game four and gained a boost. Alexander landed an ace in the fifth game for a hold at love and 3-2 and made another push on the return in the next one.
The favorite clinched a break at 15, opening a 4-2 advantage and moving closer to the finish line. Bublik held at love in game seven with a service winner and forged a 5-2 lead.
Bublik served for the title at 5-3 and landed a service winner on a match point, celebrating his third ATP title within two months.
