Alexander Bublik claims his comments about Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray's retirements were "lost in translation" and insists that he absolutely didn't want it to come out the way it did.
In an interview with a Russian publication, the four-time ATP champion appeared to criticize the timing of their retirement decisions, suggesting that they allowed themselves to become "bald and old" when they made the call.
"We tennis players, looked at them with our mouths open in the locker room, and then you see one of them bald and old," the Kazakh told Match TV earlier this month.
To no one's surprise, Bublik's comments quickly made all the headlines and he faced criticism and backlash over what many deemed as "disrespectful remarks" about two tennis legends.
However, the former world No. 17 has an explanation.
Bublik clarifies himself
According to the Kazakh, he just wanted to say that he would have preferred to see Nadal and Murray go out in great style - not injured and losing to some players that they would usually beat.
"It was a bit lost in the translation. What I meant was like I dont wanna see them like this because it was in Russian, and it was a quick interview, it came up huge," the world No. 37 told Sportskeeda.
"What I tried to say in that sentence not bald and old I tried to say that I dont want to see them like this. Theyre legends. Theyre winning Slams. I mean, come on, its something on the other planet for a player like me."
Also, Bublik added that he "misused the words" and claimed that no one is mad at him in the locker room because players know what he wanted to say.
Nadal and Murray haven't made any comments about the Kazakh's remarks and all the chances are that they probably won't.
