Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal slammed as ‘embarrassments’ in tennis rival’s scathing rant
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Andy Murray has been labelled an "embarrassment" by outspoken tennis star Alexander Bublik. The Kazakhstani player didn't mince his words when discussing the three-time Grand Slam champion, suggesting that Murray's decision to retire from the sport had turned into a "circus". Bublik is known for his controversial opinions and frequently makes headlines with his unconventional views.
However, his latest comments may have crossed a line as he also criticised how Rafael Nadal handled his retirement. Bublik expressed his disappointment at how both legends continued to play on despite their injuries, bluntly referring to them as "a bald man and an old man".
Murray, 37, ended his 20-year career in August 2024 after a commendable run to the doubles quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, Nadal, 38, retired in November of the same year following a speech at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. A video montage of his career highlights was shown, and Nadal received personal messages from several top players. However, Bublik appeared indifferent to each player's grand farewell, and during an interview with Russian media Match TV, he also criticised Murray's recent decision to coach Novak Djokovic, describing it as a way of clinging to the past.
"We want to retire in the best possible way. It's clear that I'm not Rafa Nadal, and my legacy will be much smaller if you can call it that, but he is not what he was and will never be again," Bublik said. "What happened with Nadal and Andy Murray in their retirements was a circus. I can't call it anything else. We used to watch them with our mouths open in the locker room, but then you see a bald man and an old man. For me, it was an embarrassment, a circus. I think that's the most correct way to put it.".
