Sports · Tennis · 6 hrs ago
Alexander Bublik smashes racket and cooler, then wins at Shanghai Masters
Alexander Bublik beat Brandon Nakashima in a last-32 match at the Shanghai Masters.
The world No.
22 lost the first-set tie-break after having two set points.
He smashed his racket five times and then punched a drinks cooler beside his chair.
The blow broke the cooler's cover and cut Bublik's hand, which began bleeding.
He asked for a physiotherapist and a medical time-out, and the umpire gave him a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Bublik recovered to win in three sets, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.
He will face top seed Alexander Zverev in the last 16.
Alexander Bublik smashed his racket and punched a drinks cooler during his Shanghai Masters match against Brandon Nakashima.
He cut his right hand on the cooler and requested a medical time-out and treatment from a physio.
Bublik lost the first-set tie-break but recovered to beat Nakashima in three sets.
The win set up a last-16 match against top seed Alexander Zverev.
- Who
- Alexander Bublik and Brandon Nakashima. Bublik won their match.
- What
- Bublik smashed his racket and punched a drinks cooler, cutting his hand, then came back to win.
- When
- Sunday, 12 October 2026.
- Where
- The Shanghai Masters.
- Why
- Bublik was frustrated after losing the first-set tie-break.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bublik lost the first-set tie-break against Nakashima and smashed his racket and a drinks cooler.
After cutting his hand, Bublik requested a medical time-out and treatment from a physio.
Bublik came back to beat Nakashima 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
- Match
- Bublik beat Brandon Nakashima in three sets
- Score
- 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
- Tournament
- Shanghai Masters
- Racket
- Bublik smashed it on the court five times
- Next match
- Last-16 showdown with Alexander Zverev









