Alexander Bublik roasts Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray for being too ‘bald and old’ at tennis retirement

Kazakhstani tennis player Alexander Bublik says the way legends of the sport like Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray clung onto their longevity during the twilight of their career was a “disgrace”.

The world No.33 first called the circumstances around their retirements a “circus”, before doubling down even further.

Nadal battled injury consistently throughout the later years of his highly decorated career, eventually succumbing to them in October last year when the 38-year-old announced his retirement.

Murray, too, was a shell of his former self when he, at 37, retired in August last year, more than five years after he appeared to initially retire via a video tribute at the 2019 Australian Open.

Regardless though, the pair are two of the greatest players the game has ever seen, and their legacy remains unimpeded by the struggles of their final few years, with 25 grand slam titles between them, including 22 for Nadal.

That’s not the opinion of Bublik though, who apparently cringed at the veterans’ attempt to cling on to their playing days.

“We used to look at them with our mouths open in the locker room — and then you see them bald and old,” Bublik told Match TV.

Bublik, who is 27, says he wants to play “another eight or nine seasons”, which will take him to “35 or 36 years old”.

“That’ll be good. If I can play the next eight or nine out of 10 years at the same level as now, I’ll be happy,” he added.

But his opinion appears to differ when it comes to Nadal.

He was asked: “Last season we saw Rafael Nadal, at 38, trying to return to the tour despite injuries. It was hard to watch at times. Would you try to overcome injuries or would you rather announce your retirement as soon as you feel your body fails you? Do you want to retire at your peak?”

Bublik said he “would like to retire at the peak”, before going on a tirade against Nadal and Murray.

“Now, it goes without saying that I am not Rafa, my legacy will be much smaller, if you could even call it legacy,” he went on.

“What was going on around Andy Murray and Rafa was a circus. I can’t call it otherwise.

“These two people achieved everything there is to achieve. Even we, fellow players, used to look at them with our mouths open in the locker room, and then you see them bald and old.

“You understand they are past their prime and will never be as good again.

“In my view, it’s not even a circus but a disgrace — that’s probably the better word. Although the way Rafa retired was OK.”

Asked specifically about Murray, Bublik said: “Sadly, no (it was not OK). Now he has joined Novak Djokovic’s team. These are attempts to cling on to something that no longer exists, to some echoes of the past.

“I hope this will not be my case but you can never be sure — maybe at 36 l will be going to Challengers in Bangkok. But I still hope that I will be at peace with myself.”

The takedown received a mixed response, with some offended on behalf of Murray and Nadal, while others seemed to agree with him.

“I don’t know who Bublik is, but there is nothing disgraceful about a player who is still top 10 or 20 wanting to continue to play despite their age. It’s for the love of tennis, and that’s hardly disgraceful,” one said.

“Ridiculous. They can retire anyway they want. Anyone can, including great champs. Who cares if they play past their prime? They love to play,” another added.

“Many will be p***** at him but low-key he is right,” a third said.

Bublik has won four career titles and reached a career-high ranking of 17th in the world in May last year.