Andy Murray, 37, is dubbed ‘bald, old and a problem’ for tennis as he clings on to his past, by rival player who is unimpressed by his retirement ‘circus’ and coaching of Novak Djokovic

Alexander Bublik has caused a stir after his controversial comments towards tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Both players retired last year and were appropriately serenaded for their achievements in the sport.

In November, Nadal, 38, gave a speech and a video montage was played of his career highlights at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. As well as this, the Spaniard received personal messages from some greats of the game, including Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic.

Murray, 37, also sent a message to Nadal, and was honoured at the Paris Olympics in 2024. In 24 matches between the pair, their head-to-head record was 17-7 in Nadal’s favour – Murray’s worst record against any player he ever faced over 20 times.

After retiring, Murray has now joined forces with Djokovic, coaching the Serbian ahead of the upcoming Australian Open.

Bublik took aim at his former foe and accused the Brit of ‘grasping’ at the past with his decision to work with Djokovic.

Kazakh star Alexander Bublik had some contentious words for Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal

Nadal retired in November 2024 after losing in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga

Murray called it a day after losing in the men’s doubles quarter-final at the Paris Olympics 

‘Now [Murray] has joined Novak Djokovic’s team,’ he said. ‘These are attempts to grasp at something that no longer exists, to some echoes of the past. I think this is a problem.’

The world No 33 also had words for Nadal, describing his and Murray’s retirement as a ‘circus’.

‘Yes, I want to leave at the peak,’ he added.

‘It is clear that I am not Rafa, my legacy will be much smaller, if it can be called such. What happened to Andy Murray and Rafa was a circus.

‘I can’t call it anything else. People have achieved everything, even we tennis players looked at them with our mouths open in the locker room – and then you see one of them bald and old.

‘It is clear that he is no longer the same and will never be the same. In my opinion, this is even a shame, not a circus. Probably, it would be more correct to say so. Although Rafa still left normally.’

Bublik has been involved in previous controversies before, having been called out by Nick Kyrgios for using offensive language towards disabled people at the US Open in 2023.

In a first-round loss to Dominic Thiem, Bublik allegedly said in Russian: ‘I am f***ing sick of giving careers back to disabled people,’ a jibe aimed at his opponent.

Over 19 years, Nadal and Murray had a head-to-head record of 17-7 in the former’s favour

Kyrgios, was quick to comment on the incident, writing on X: ‘This is low key horrible.’

When Thiem was questioned about the apparent insult during his press conference, he wondered if the translation was correct.

Informed by a reporter that it was, Thiem disapproved of the remark.

‘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.’