The Asian swing of the ATP Tour has kicked off in electrifying fashion, with the Hangzhou Open serving as the first spark in a series of high-stakes tournaments across China. Tennis fans are witnessing a remarkable run from Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, whose 2025 season has gone from middling to meteoric, and the rise of French qualifier Valentin Royer, who’s turned heads with his unlikely surge to the final. The tournament, an ATP 250 event and the first of four stops in China culminating with the Shanghai Masters, has brought together a fascinating mix of established stars and hungry newcomers, all vying for momentum as the season barrels toward its climax.
On Sunday, September 21, 2025, Alexander Bublik continued his red-hot streak by dispatching local favorite Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to secure his place in the Hangzhou Open final. This win marks Bublik’s fourth ATP Tour final appearance of the year, and he’s shown a knack for finishing the job—he’s won all three previous finals in 2025, hoisting trophies in Halle, Gstaad, and Kitzbuhel. What’s more, this upcoming final is Bublik’s first hard-court ATP Tour final of the season, a testament to his newfound versatility and resilience.
Bublik’s path to the Hangzhou final has been nothing short of impressive. After a rocky start to the year, his fortunes shifted dramatically following Roland Garros. Since then, he’s racked up a 22-3 win-loss record, collecting titles in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. In Halle, he toppled heavyweights Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev—no small feat on grass. His clay court prowess was on full display with back-to-back triumphs in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel. Now, with a hard-court final on the horizon, Bublik has joined an elite club: alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Jannik Sinner, he’s one of only four players to reach at least one ATP Tour final on every surface in 2025.
“I just tried to stay focused and play my game,” Bublik said after his semifinal victory, reflecting on his transformation this season. “It’s been a long journey, but I’m enjoying every moment on court right now.” According to the ATP’s current rankings, Bublik has soared from outside the top 80 to No. 19 in just a few months, and he’s now 12th in the ATP Finals qualification race with 2,310 points. He trails the final qualifying spot, held by Alex de Minaur, by 835 points, but with major tournaments like the Shanghai Masters, Brussels Open, and Vienna Open still to come, Bublik’s hopes for a debut at the ATP Finals remain very much alive.
His opponent in the Hangzhou final will be Valentin Royer, a 24-year-old Frenchman who’s become the fourth qualifier to reach an ATP Tour final this season. Royer’s run has been nothing short of sensational. Entering the tournament with little fanfare and no prior ATP-level semifinals to his name, he bulldozed through the qualifying rounds and then stunned top-seeded players, including Andrey Rublev and Learner Tien. Royer’s reward? A career-best live ranking of world No. 83—and, at the very least, a moment in the spotlight that few outside his camp could have predicted.
“I’m just taking it match by match,” Royer told reporters after his semifinal win. “I didn’t expect to be here, but I’m playing with a lot of confidence and belief. Every match is a new opportunity.” Royer’s journey through the draw included a semifinal victory over compatriot Corentin Moutet, another Frenchman enjoying a career-best season. Moutet, the 4th seed in Hangzhou, had already reached the semifinals of an ATP tournament for the fourth time in 2025 and secured a spot inside the top 40 for the first time. His unique style and gritty performances—including a recent heroic Davis Cup showing for France—had made him a dark horse favorite. Yet, Royer’s momentum proved unstoppable in their all-French semifinal clash.
Moutet’s season, though ending in disappointment in Hangzhou, has been a breakthrough. He reached the final at the Mallorca Open and notched three other semifinal appearances, including a run at the DC Open—his best ATP 500 result to date. In Davis Cup play just a week ago, Moutet delivered crucial wins over Dino Prizmic and Marin Cilic, helping France secure a place in the 2026 qualifiers. His rise to world No. 37 is a testament to his persistence and flair, even if silverware has remained elusive.
Meanwhile, the Hangzhou Open has also marked a turning point for China’s Wu Yibing. The 25-year-old wildcard entry, once beset by injuries, thrilled local fans with a string of upsets—taking out Adrian Mannarino, Sebastian Korda, and second seed Daniil Medvedev, all in three-set battles. Wu, already a national hero after winning the Dallas Open in 2023, was bidding for his second career final on home soil. Though Bublik proved a bridge too far in the semifinals, Wu’s resurgence signals a promising new chapter for Chinese men’s tennis, especially with the Asian swing in full flow.
The 2025 Hangzhou Open has also rekindled memories of past tensions. Bublik and Moutet, who both entered the week as favorites to reach the final, share a tempestuous history. Their infamous quarterfinal at the Phoenix Challenger earlier this year ended with Bublik inciting a confrontation: “You want to fight? The French kid talks, but he doesn’t want to fight. Let’s meet outside in ten minutes,” Bublik reportedly said, according to tournament coverage. While a rematch in Hangzhou never materialized, the prospect of future encounters between these two fiery competitors remains tantalizing for fans.
As the Asian swing gathers momentum, the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open has provided a perfect stage for emerging storylines and career-defining moments. Bublik’s bid for a fourth title of the season and Royer’s Cinderella run have injected fresh excitement into the tour. With key tournaments still to come—including the prestigious Shanghai Masters—players are jostling not just for trophies, but for critical ranking points and a coveted place at the ATP Finals.
For now, all eyes turn to the Hangzhou Open final. Will Alexander Bublik’s dream season continue with yet another title, or can Valentin Royer complete his fairytale week with a maiden ATP crown? With both players in top form and plenty at stake, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown in Hangzhou. Tennis fans, buckle up—the best may be yet to come.
