The Hangzhou Open is heating up as the ATP 250 event rolls into its quarterfinal stage, and all eyes are on the intriguing men’s singles clash between Dalibor Svrcina and Alexander Bublik. With a week full of surprises, upsets, and rising stars, Sunday’s matchups promise even more drama, especially as Svrcina looks to extend his best-ever run at this tournament against the formidable Bublik.
Let’s set the stage: The Hangzhou Open, renowned for attracting some of the brightest talents in men’s tennis, is hosting its quarterfinals on September 21, 2025. The lineup is stacked, featuring top seeds like Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev (though Rublev suffered a shock exit at the hands of Valentin Royer), as well as Americans Sebastian Korda and Learner Tien. Yet, it’s the Svrcina-Bublik showdown that’s capturing the imagination of fans and pundits alike.
Dalibor Svrcina, ranked No. 99 in the world, has carved out a breakthrough run in Hangzhou. On Saturday, he dispatched Zhizhen Zhang in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, in a contest that lasted 1 hour and 32 minutes. This victory not only marked Svrcina’s best result at the Hangzhou Open—having previously only reached the qualifying rounds in 2024—but also boosted his confidence and prize money. With $12,920 added to his earnings, Svrcina’s tournament haul now stands at $30,805. A win against Bublik would see him pocket an additional $22,360, bringing his total to a substantial $53,165.
Looking at the stats from the Zhang match, Svrcina was aggressive but not always clinical, converting just 38% (5/13) of his break points. Still, he managed to outscore Zhang 69 points to 56, showing a knack for winning the big moments. Zhang, for his part, was more efficient on break points (50%, 2/4), but that wasn’t enough to turn the tide. The head-to-head between the two now stands at 1-0 in favor of the Czech, who will be hoping to ride this momentum into his quarterfinal clash.
On the other side of the net, Alexander Bublik enters as the heavy favorite—and for good reason. The world No. 19 boasts a 29-17 match record in 2025, notching up three tournament titles along the way. Bublik’s serve has been a major weapon all season, averaging a whopping 11 aces per match and racking up 108 break points won. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a gritty win over Aleksandar Vukic (6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4), underlining his resilience and ability to turn matches around.
Bublik’s 2025 campaign has been impressive, marked by a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open and titles in Halle and Kitzbuhel. He’s shown he can thrive on the big stage and is certainly comfortable on hard courts, which makes him a daunting prospect for any challenger. As one preview put it, "Bublik will be up against a tricky contender, but should be able to exploit his weaknesses and enter the next round."
For Svrcina, the journey to this point has been one of steady progress. His 2025 record stands at 9-11 across 10 tournaments, and while he hasn’t clinched a title this year, he’s demonstrated he can go toe-to-toe with higher-ranked opponents. He’s also made his mark on the ATP Challenger circuit, securing title-winning runs in Pune, Barletta, and Cancun. The Hangzhou Open, however, represents a significant step up in competition and visibility.
When it comes to the numbers, the odds are stacked against Svrcina. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Bublik is favored at -325, while Svrcina sits at +240. The implied probability gives Bublik a strong edge, but tennis is a sport where upsets are always lurking. For the tournament as a whole, Bublik’s odds to win stand at +230, compared to Svrcina’s +1400—a clear reflection of their respective trajectories this season.
This will be the first-ever main tour meeting between Svrcina and Bublik, adding an extra layer of intrigue. Both players bring contrasting styles to the court: Bublik’s serve-and-volley aggression versus Svrcina’s baseline tenacity. The Czech’s set record for 2025 is 21-25, with an average of 1.2 aces per match and 71 break points won. These numbers pale in comparison to Bublik’s, but Svrcina’s recent form suggests he’s peaking at just the right time.
The broader context of the Hangzhou Open can’t be ignored. The tournament has already seen its share of surprises, with Rublev’s early exit and Korda’s defeat to Wu Yibing. The quarterfinals also feature Learner Tien vs Valentin Royer, Daniil Medvedev vs Wu Yibing, and Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Corentin Moutet. Predictions from various outlets give the edge to Tien, Medvedev, and Moutet in their respective matches, but the Bublik-Svrcina clash is widely viewed as a battle between experience and ambition.
For Svrcina, the Hangzhou Open is a chance to announce himself on the main stage. His win over Zhang was a statement, not just in terms of scoreline but in the way he handled the pressure. "Dalibor won this match even if he wasn’t that great in converting his break points," noted one analysis, highlighting his ability to dig deep when it counted. If he can improve his efficiency on break points and maintain his composure, Svrcina could cause Bublik more problems than the odds suggest.
Bublik, meanwhile, will be looking to assert his authority early. With a powerful serve and the confidence that comes from a string of recent successes, he’ll aim to dictate play and keep Svrcina on the defensive. That said, tennis fans know that favorites don’t always have it their own way, especially in the pressure cooker of a tournament quarterfinal.
As the Hangzhou Open quarterfinals unfold, all eyes will be on the Bublik-Svrcina encounter. Will Bublik’s experience and firepower prove too much, or can Svrcina continue his fairy-tale run? The action is set, the stakes are high, and the outcome is anything but certain. One thing’s for sure: Sunday in Hangzhou is shaping up to be a thriller for tennis fans everywhere.
