Bublik smashes three racquets in Montpellier meltdown

AFP

A raging Alexander Bublik laid waste to 3 racquets in a row on the Open Sud de France in Montpellier on Wednesday because the defending champion exited the ATP 250 occasion within the first spherical.

Bublik, who was born in Russia however represents Kazakhstan, misplaced 4-6 7-6(12) 6-7(3) to native hope Gregoire Barrere.

World quantity 50 Bublik saved three match factors in a marathon second-set tie-breaker to stage the competition and the 25-year-old was main 4-2 within the third.

However, he would lose the lead after which his cool as he trailed 6-0 in a third-set tiebreak.

The sixth seed, who additionally went out within the first spherical of the Australian Open final month, drew jeers from the group as he slammed his racquet onto the court docket earlier than grabbing two extra and destroying these too.

Barrere wrapped up the match on his sixth match level, whereas Bublik completed with 14 double faults.