Tennis star banked £118k for two-hour Carlos Alcaraz practice but hates the sport - The Mirror

The tennis ace may be living the dream of many and playing with the world's but the candid player has admitted to 'hating' the game in the past

Tennis star Alexander Bublik has pocketed an eye-watering sum simply for practising with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. But if his previous remarks are any indication, the outspoken Kazakh player won't have relished a single moment of it.

The 28-year-old is currently experiencing a career highlight. He's attending the ATP Finals in Turin for the first time, serving as first alternate. The world No. 11 is standing by to step in should any competitor withdraw during the group stage.

Alternates pocket £118,000 merely for being present and staying at the venue throughout the competition. Bublik banked nearly £120k for a two-hour training session with two-time Wimbledon champion Alcaraz on Saturday at the Inalpi Arena in the Piedmont capital, with the Spanish star coming out on top against Bublik.

However, the Russian-born player may have little concern for the outcome. Previously, Bublik, recognised for his candid nature, admitted that he "hates" being required to play tennis daily.

Bublik, who has accumulated close to £5 million in prize money throughout his career, said: "I hate every day I have to play. To be honest, I don't see any positive aspect to being a tennis player. I only play for money.

"If there were no money at stake, I would stop playing. I haven't earned enough, otherwise I would have retired already, and I think I will probably die playing tennis."

Bublik's alternate status in Turin may well suit his philosophy. The ATP Finals award a cheque for £3.8m to the undefeated champion. For participating, the eight qualified players receive £252,000 each.

For each victory in the group stage, the amount rises to £302,000, while reaching the final pays out £900,000. Bublik also once took a swipe at his rival Jannik Sinner when it came to the question of cash.

Appearing on the Tennis Channel, Bublik, in response to being told that he had banked a hefty amount in his career, sarcastically quipped: "Like Jannik Sinner said, 'Money is not the thing'".

However, in 2022 Bublik clarified his stance on his controversial comments. He said: "The media has been doing it wrong many times. With my speeches, sometimes they take my words out (of context) and use them.

"It was not a joke that I said I play tennis for money because at that specific moment I was not enjoying what I was doing.

"But as time went by and it has been three years since that interview, things have changed a lot and I do enjoy playing tennis now because I realized that this is what I wanted to do when I was a kid."

The 2025 French Open quarter-finalist even confessed his aspirations to follow in the footsteps of tennis legends. He added: "When I was growing up I was standing in front of the mirror wearing Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer clothes dreaming of playing in (tennis) arenas.

"When this thing (media reports of Bublik's comments) about playing for money got too big, I was like this is not entirely true because I was dreaming of standing here in front of thousands of people. I definitely enjoy and love playing tennis."