Andy Murray told why ‘circus’ retirement was an ’embarrassment’ for him and Rafael Nadal
Alexander Bublik has launched a scathing attack on both Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal, branding their retirements from tennis an ’embarrassment’
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by Chris Burns, Maria Ortega
11:19, 7 Jan 2025
Alexander Bublik has shared his controversial opinions once again
Alexander Bublik has shared his controversial opinions once again(Image: Sander Koning/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
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Andy Murray has been called an “embarrassment” by rebel tennis star Alexander Bublik.
The Kazakhstan-born athlete didn’t refrain when discussing the three-time Grand Slam champion, suggesting Murray’s retirement decision turned into a “circus”. Bublik is known for his controversial opinions and has frequently made headlines with his unusual views.
However, his latest comments may have overstepped the mark as he also criticised how Rafael Nadal managed his retirement. Bublik expressed dissatisfaction with how both tennis greats continued to play despite their injuries, bluntly referring to them as “a bald man and an old man”.
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Murray, 37, ended his 20-year career in August 2024 after a remarkable run to the doubles quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics. Nadal, aged 38, retired from professional tennis in November of the same year following a speech at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
A video montage showcasing his career highlights was played, and the Spanish player received personal messages from several of the sport’s greatest-ever players. However, Bublik appeared largely indifferent to the emotion surrounding Murray and Nadal’s exit from the game.
Nadal and Murray have been slammed by Bublik(Image: Getty Images)
During an interview with Russian media outlet Match TV, he also criticised Murray’s recent decision to assist in coaching Novak Djokovic. In the chat, he described the Scottish icon as clinging on to the past, reports the Daily Record.
“We want to retire in the best possible way. It’s clear that I’m not Rafa Nadal and my legacy will be much smaller, if you can call it that, but he is not what he was and will never be again,” Bublik said.
“What happened with Nadal and Andy Murray in their retirements was a circus, I can’t call it anything else. We used to watch them with our mouths open in the locker room but then you see a bald man and an old man. For me it was an embarrassment, a circus. I think that’s the most correct way to put it.”
On Murray’s partnership with former rival Djokovic, he added: “It’s an attempt to prolong something that is no longer there, some echoes of the past. I think it’s a problem and I hope not to live the same situation when the day of retirement comes. Maybe at 36 I’ll go to the Challenger in Bangkok, but I still hope to go out with a clear conscience.”
Bublik, who has only made it to the fourth round of a Grand Slam once, has faced Murray five times, with the two-time Wimbledon champion winning three of those matches. This isn’t the first time the Russian-born player has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
Murray and Djokovic have now teamed up (Image: Getty Images)
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios had to reprimand Bublik for using offensive language towards disabled people during the US Open in 2023. Bublik is now set to play at the Adelaide International, which kicks off on Tuesday, January 7, ahead of the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, with Murray’s involvement with Djokovic turning heads, the Scotsman is now focused on assisting the Serbian ace in his quest to clinch a landmark 25th men’s Grand Slam title at the forthcoming Australian Open. On adding Murray to his team, Djokovic spoke highly of his former rival.
“I love talking to him about the nuances, the details, how I can improve my game, how I can gain an inch, court positioning more comparing to my opponent, and every bit of percentage counts at the highest level,” he said.
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