Alexander Bublik says competing at the St. Petersburg feels like "a step back into my childhood," and that's why he is thrilled to play at the Northern Palmyra Trophies.
Bublik, who was born in Gatchina (a town not-so-far from St. Petersburg), switched to representing Kazakhstan in 2016. However, that move was mainly made because he felt that it would give him bigger financial opportunities to support his career.
While Bublik was still representing Russia, he lost in the St. Petersburg qualifying final round in 2015. The following year, he made his ATP debut on the same courts when he lost to Daniil Medvedev.
While St. Petersburg hasn't been hosting an ATP tournament since 2021 due to ATP's sanctions, Bublik is back to the Russian city this weekend as a participant of the Northern Palmyra Trophies - an exhibition mixed team tournament.
It is not a secret that participants of the Northern Palmyra Trophies have been subjected to criticism for taking part in a Russian exhibition. However, the world No. 11 has no regrets about his decision.
Bublik: Being here is a step back into my childhood and my fondest memories
"Let me answer that then. I don't need any extra motivation to come to my hometown to play in front of my people, in front of the fans I grew up with. So for me, even being here I literally just landed here a couple of hours ago, but being here is like a return to my childhood. I grew up on these courts, I played my very first ATP tournament here. So for me, it's a step back into my childhood and the fondest memories. I simply have no moral right to miss such things," the 28-year-old told Championat.
Bublik is competing alongside Tallon Griekspoor, Diana Shnaider and Ana Potapova. Their rivals are Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, Veronika Kudermetova and Yulia Putintseva.
