Alexander Bublik kicked off the 2026 campaign with the title at the ATP 250 event in Hong Kong.
The Kazakh ousted Lorenzo Musetti 7-6, 6-3 in an hour and 38 minutes for his ninth ATP title and a place in the top-10.
The moment Bublik claimed his first trophy of 2026 and his Top 10 Debut 🤩🏆#BOCHKTO2026 pic.twitter.com/D6v2xLGFNA
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 11, 2026
Bublik has been on fire since last May, playing his career-best tennis and cracking the top-10 at 28. Lorenzo fought well in the opener and missed his chances on the return. He struggled with an elbow issue in the second set and finished as the runner-up.
The Italian will enter the top-5 with these points, but he remains without an ATP title since October 2022, having lost seven straight finals. Alexander claimed 12 points more than his rival.
He denied two of three break points and turned 40% of the return points into three breaks from seven opportunities. The Kazakh tamed his strokes superbly and had the upper hand in the shortest rallies up to four strokes.
Alexander Bublik, Hong Kong 2026© Stream screenshot
Lorenzo provided six comfortable holds in the opening set and kept the pressure on his rival. They reached 4-4 in 23 minutes before Musetti generated a break chance in game nine.
Alexander saved it with a service winner and held to remain on the positive side. The Kazakh squandered game points at 5-5 and offered his rival another break opportunity.
Bublik denied it with an ace and held for more drama. The set went into a tie break, and world no. 11 won all points on serve. The Italian experienced two mini-breaks, and the Kazakh landed a smash winner at 6-2 to wrap up the first part of the duel in 48 minutes.
Struggling with elbow issues, Lorenzo faced problems in four service games of the second set. He denied a break point in the first game before Alexander clinched a break at love at 1-1 to move in front.
Lorenzo Musetti, Hong Kong 2026© Stream screenshot
Bublik hit a double fault in the fourth game to drop serve and bring his rival back to the positive side. The Italian squandered game points in the fifth game and experienced a break after a forced error.
Alexander provided fine holds in games six and eight to move 5-3 in front. He made another push on the return in game nine and converted the third match point to emerge at the top and claim his ninth ATP title.
