Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik is at the centre of controversy after allegedly uttering an awful mid-match slur that disparaged people with disabilities during the US Open.
During the second set of Bublik’s match against Austria’s Dominic Thiem, which Bublik lost 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, the world No.27 allegedly said in Russian: “I am sick of giving careers back to disabled people”.
Thiem won the 2020 US Open men’s singles title and is a former world No.3, but a wrist injury derailed his career.
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The 29-year-old’s straight-sets victory over Bublik on Tuesday morning (AEST) marked his first grand slam win in more than two years.
When Thiem was asked about the alleged sledge in his press conference, he said he wasn’t sure if the translation was correct.
But he condemned the alleged slur when told by a reporter that the translation was right.
“It’s a tough saying,” Thiem said.
“Something you shouldn’t say in general, out of respect.
“Maybe he didn’t mean it that way or whatever.
“What can I say about it?”
Leading tennis journalist José Morgado lashed Bublik on Twitter, accusing him of “a tremendous lack of respect”.
Nick Kyrgios also weighed in, saying the alleged slur was “low-key horrible”.
Bublik crashed out in the first round of a grand slam for the third time in 2023, while he also suffered his fourth defeat on the bounce.
Thiem will face American Ben Shelton in the second round of the US Open.
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
