Alexander Bublik destroys racket and delays play at Paris Masters as rival takes action

Alexander Bublik held up play at the Paris Masters when he obliterated his racket during his semi-final clash with Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Kazakh repeatedly smashed his racket on the ground after relinquishing a break lead early in the second set, and received a code violation.

They swapped ends after the changeover and Auger-Aliassime couldn't start his service game as there was still debris on the court. But he took action, cleaning it up himself, and Bublik showed his appreciation.

There was nothing separating Bublik from Auger-Aliassime in the first set. Neither man was able to create a single break point opportunity, and they went into a tiebreak. The Canadian pounced, taking a crucial mini-break lead when he ripped a return across the court, and Bublik dumped the ball into the net.

After 50 minutes, Auger-Aliassime took the first set 7-6(3), with Bublik making another error to lose it. But the No. 13 seed regrouped early in the second and broke to love, leading 2-0.

However, he immediately gave the break back, playing a sloppy game to get broken. Bublik responded by destroying his racket until it was bent out of shape, and he received a code violation for racket abuse as he sat down at the change of ends.

"Well, we've seen this before from Bublik. The racket smashed to pieces. Gets the warning," Mikey Perera said on commentary.

Colin Fleming replied: "You can understand why he's frustrated. Look at that thing. Not leaving anything to chance there. It's good technique that, no wonder he's got a good serve!

"It's such a frustrating first set, which he hardly got a sniff, able to break early in the second and then not the best of games to get broken straight back, and that is the result."

Bublik and Auger-Aliassime got back up to continue playing, but the Canadian informed the umpire that there were still scraps from Bublik's racket on the court.

The No. 9 seed grabbed a towel and wiped it away himself as the crowd laughed and cheered him on, waiting for the game to start.

"There is some debris on the court so that is going to have to be tidied up. And Felix taking care of it himself," Perera said.

Bublik was all smiles, and even made a heart with his hands as he started down the net at Auger-Aliassime.

The unleash of emotion clearly did Bublik some good as he broke Auger-Aliassime again in the very next game. But the rollercoaster continued, and the Canadian got back on serve again a few games later.

Auger-Aliassime kept on rolling and sealed a 7-6(3) 6-4 victory to reach his second Masters 1000 final. Both players were all smiles at the net, as Bublik told his opponent: "That was good returning man, amazing returning!" The ninth seed then joked that it had been a weird second set.