Is a Jannik Sinner vs. Alexander Bublik Rematch on the Cards in Vienna?
Jannik Sinner is back on the ATP Tour, and it looks like the tennis gods have a sense of humor. After a little break following his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters, the Italian superstar is heading to the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, and his draw is anything but a walk in the park. In fact, it’s shaping up to be a spicy reunion tour.
Remember Daniel Altmaier? The guy who sent Sinner packing from Roland Garros in 2023 in an epic five-set nail-biter? Well, he’s Sinner’s first-round opponent. Talk about a warm welcome. Sure, Sinner got his revenge in Shanghai earlier this year, but Altmaier is a dangerous player who loves to play spoiler. He’s already taken out Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open and Denis Shapovalov in Japan this year, so he’s clearly not intimidated by big names. Sinner better not be caught napping.
Sinner’s Path is Paved with Potential Trouble
If Sinner survives his first-round ghost of tournaments past, he doesn’t get much of a breather. His potential second-round opponents are Tomas Machac and Flavio Cobolli, two guys who are more than capable of causing an upset. The top half of the Vienna draw is absolutely stacked, a real shark tank for anyone with their eyes on the prize.
But let’s be real, the matchup everyone is secretly hoping for is a quarter-final clash between Sinner and the one and only Alexander Bublik. Their rivalry in 2025 has been a rollercoaster of emotions and brilliant tennis. Bublik is one of the very few players to have actually beaten Sinner this year, pulling off a stunning upset on the grass in Halle. Sinner, of course, returned the favor with dominant straight-set wins at both Roland Garros and the US Open. It’s a classic see-saw rivalry, and another chapter in Vienna would be pure entertainment.
Before Bublik can even think about Sinner, he has his own work cut out for him. He’s facing Alejandro Tabilo, the Chengdu champion, in the first round. So, while we’re all dreaming of a Sinner-Bublik showdown, there are no guarantees in a tournament this loaded.
What About the Rest of the Field?
The Vienna Open is always a critical stop on the tour, especially with players scrambling for those last few precious spots at the Nitto ATP Finals. And this year’s draw reflects that urgency with some blockbuster first-round matches.
Lorenzo Musetti, clinging to his World No. 8 spot, has the unenviable task of facing former World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas right out of the gate. That match alone is worth the price of admission. Elsewhere, Andrey Rublev, who is desperately trying to find some form, will battle it out with Cameron Norrie. And if that’s not enough, we’ve got Alexei Popyrin taking on Matteo Berrettini in what promises to be a slugfest.
Basically, there are no easy matches here. Everyone is fighting for something, whether it’s ranking points, a spot in Turin, or just plain old bragging rights. Jannik Sinner is the top seed and the 2023 champion, but defending his title will be a monumental task. He’s got a target on his back, a draw full of landmines, and a potential rematch with his most unpredictable rival. Grab your popcorn, because Vienna is about to get wild.
