Beaten Aussie James Duckworth declares opponent Alexander Bublik will lose to Alex de Minaur at French Open
Australian tennis player James Duckworth, after losing to Alexander Bublik in the first round of the French Open 2025, boldly predicted that Bublik would fall to compatriot Alex de Minaur in their second-round match on May 29, 2025, at Roland Garros. Despite Bublik’s dominant 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win over Duckworth, where he fired 16 aces and 41 winners, Duckworth expressed confidence in de Minaur’s ability to handle the Kazakh’s unpredictable style, stating, “As unpredictable as he is, there is an absolute predictability about the outcome.” This prediction aligns with de Minaur’s 3-0 head-to-head lead over Bublik, including a 2021 clay-court win in Barcelona, and his superior clay form.
Context of Duckworth’s Prediction
Duckworth, ranked world No. 92, described Bublik’s erratic playing style, noting, “You’ve got to be ready for everything… underarms, a drop shot from an obscure position, or he could just hit and come in randomly.” Despite Bublik’s flair, including underarm serves and trick shots like drop shots from behind the baseline, Duckworth believes de Minaur’s consistency and defensive prowess will prevail. Bublik’s first-round performance was clinical, with 84% first-serve points won and no break points faced, but Duckworth highlighted his inconsistency, saying Bublik can “look like he doesn’t care two hoots.”
De Minaur, the world No. 9, advanced with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(8/6) win over Laslo Djere, overcoming a 43% first-serve rate and blisters to save four set points. He acknowledged Bublik’s challenge, saying, “He’s unpredictable… he’s going to try and have short points and break my rhythm,” and stressed mental and physical readiness. Predictive models give de Minaur a 73-82% win probability, citing his 10-4 clay record in 2025 and Bublik’s 0-4 second-round record at Roland Garros.
Bublik’s Form and Challenges
Bublik, ranked No. 62, has shown clay-court improvement, winning the Turin Challenger and posting a 12-5 clay record in 2025. However, his 10-24 record against top-10 players and 0-3 loss to de Minaur, including a 7-5, 6-0 rout at Indian Wells 2024, weaken his case. His 5.1 double faults per match and 40% break-point conversion rate on clay, contrast with de Minaur’s 74% first-serve points won and 49% break-point conversion. Posts on X called Bublik a “toughhhh opponent” for de Minaur, but emphasized de Minaur’s “Grand Slam confidence surge.”
Connection to Broader French Open Narratives
Duckworth’s prediction reflects Australian camaraderie, echoing de Minaur’s leadership of a historic 16-player Aussie contingent, the largest since 1990. It also ties to player backlash over scheduling, with de Minaur’s Court 14 snub labeled “insulting,” and Ons Jabeur’s critique of women’s night-session exclusion. Like Coco Gauff’s Serena Williams tribute, and Iga Swiatek’s jab at Emma Raducanu, Duckworth’s comment adds to the tournament’s emotional stakes. His confidence parallels Gerwyn Price’s mindset against Luke Littler in darts, and Littler’s own dismissal of retirement rumors.
Conclusion
James Duckworth, after a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Alexander Bublik, predicted a “predictable” win for Alex de Minaur in their French Open 2025 second-round clash, citing de Minaur’s ability to counter Bublik’s erratic style. De Minaur’s 3-0 head-to-head lead, 10-4 clay record, and 73-82% win probability, support Duckworth’s claim, despite Bublik’s 16 aces and 12-5 clay form. Set for May 29 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, the match tests de Minaur’s resilience, much like Littler’s and Gauff’s focus, as he aims for a third-round spot in a historic Aussie campaign.
