Trailing at 6-3, 5-1 and with little hope of victory in his quarterfinal assembly with Aleksandar Kovacevic on the Open Occitanie in Montpellier, a determined Alexander Bublik sought the assistance of a bemused ball boy.
Kazakh Bublik, thought-about one of many nice entertainers in tennis for his unorthodox type and liberal use of trick pictures, handed his racket to the ball boy and requested him to serve, with a smiling Kovacevic netting the return to applause from the gang.
Bublik additionally entertained followers with a string of underarm serves, together with three in a row to safe a maintain at 4-1 down within the first set.
“I used to be not anticipating to play in opposition to the ball child for a degree, however you at all times know there’s going to be one thing humorous with him (Bublik),” Kovacevic stated in his on-court interview after claiming a 6-4, 6-2 win on Friday.
“I imply, I ready for that. , it’s not the primary time he’s having enjoyable out right here. It’s not a nasty factor. It’s enjoyable for the followers, additionally. However for me, clearly, and for any opponent that he has, it’s necessary to remain locked in and focus.”
Kovacevic faces Russian prime seed Andrey Rublev within the semifinal afterward Saturday.