Bublik and Kyrgios were talking about nightmare opponents to be pitted against in a Grand Slam. The Kazakh admitted he is always concerned when he faces a young and talented wildcard, as he feels under more pressure while a youngster plays with more freedom.
“I was top 20 for the first half of the year,” Bublik said on the UTS Tour podcast. “Then I have some draws and then some guys coming in more confident than me. They’re confident and they’re like ‘Okay, I enjoy my life, I’m 127 and everything is good’. Then I am getting tight and then I’m playing 7-6 in a third or 6-4 in a third – that’s horrible.”
Kyrgios replied: “Just keep it simple bro, like what the f***.” Bublik then added: “It’s that simple, I’d rather play Holger Rune honestly, because it is a match-up. You know what he is going to do. I enjoy matches against Lorenzo (Musetti), the same rank as me.”
It was at that moment Kyrgios mentioned the fright Jubb dealt him two years ago. Kyrgios asked: “What if you play Paul Jubb? I won the final set 7-5. If you play Paul Jubb, what are you thinking?”
Bublik replied: “First round, I hate it,” prompting Kyrgios to burst into a fit of laughter. Bublik then added: “Quarter-finals, I take it. He’s cooked in the quarter-finals already.”
Kyrgios agreed, adding: “Quarter-finals, they’re too emotional, I know what you mean. First round though, dang, he played unbelievable. I was like ‘What the f***?’”
When Bublik asked if Jubb had any match point, Kyrgios laughed and frowned, almost like he was offended, before saying: “No, no, no, no, steady, steady. No match points. It was 7-5 in the fifth, no match point, I played it.”
This year, Jubb lost in the first round over five sets at Wimbledon again. He won the first two sets against Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-1 and 6-3, but could not handle the Brazilian’s late comeback that saw him win the next three 7-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk