Alexander Bublik doesn't seem to be too impressed with how Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray walked away from pro tennis, describing their retirements as "a circus."
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After picking up a very serious hip injury in early 2023, the Spanish tennis icon managed to return for one last season in 2024.
While Nadal continued to struggle with injuries and was evidently far from his best, he still managed to compete one last at the French Open, the Olympics and the Davis Cup - so his main goals were achieved.
On the other side, Murray's game and result struggles continued at the start of 2024, which led to the former three-time Grand Slam champion announcing in July that the Paris Olympics would be his last tournament.
Unfortunately due to a back issue, the former world No. 1 was only to play men's doubles at Wimbledon and he didn't play singles at the Olympics.
Bublik: What happened with Nadal and Murray is a circus
While the two greats retired on the court as they wanted, the Kazakh suggests they should have retired way earlier while they were still strong forces.
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Yes I would like to retire at the peak, the 27-year-old told Russian media outlet Match TV.
Now it goes without saying, Im not Rafa, my legacy will be much smaller, if you can call it that. What happened with Andy Murray and Rafa is a circus. I cant call it any other way.
These two people achieved everything there is to achieve. Even we as fellow tennis players used to look at them with our mouths open in the locker room and then you see them bald and old.
You understand they are past their prime and will never be as good again. In my view, its not even a circus but a disgrace. Thats probably a better word. Although the way Rafa retired was OK.
During his career, Bublik has won four ATP titles and has been ranked as high as No. 17 in the world.
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When it comes to his Grand Slam results, the current world No. 33 has never made it past the round-of-16.
