Bublik Bested by 13-Year-Old Table Tennis Prodigy
Alexander Bublik’s Table Tennis Encounter with a 13-Year-Old Prodigy
Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng wasn’t the only one to outplay Alexander Bublik in Chengdu this week. The second-seeded Kazakh, who fell to Shang in the quarterfinals, also found himself on the losing end of a table tennis match against a local 13-year-old prodigy.
The ATP teased the encounter on social media, asking if Bublik’s underarm serve would prove useful against the youngster. However, the answer was a resounding no.
“It’s a completely different sport,” Bublik joked before the match, adding that winning even three points would be “a highlight.”
Bublik was impressed by the youngster’s endurance and technique, particularly his ability to return serve. However, the Kazakh ultimately achieved his goal of winning three points and presented his opponent with a giant autographed tennis ball.
“It’s tough for tennis players because we’re used to big swings,” Bublik explained. “Here, he’s playing with a very short swing. What am I supposed to do now?”
Bublik’s solution? Return to full-sized tennis. He is seeded No. 8 this week at the ATP 500 China Open.