How do players create major upsets?

On the 2nd of June 2025, Alexander Bublik who is ranked No. 62 in the ATP singles rankings knocked British tennis star Jack Draper (ranked No. 5) out of the French Open.

It is always fascinating to see a player knock out an opponent who is ranked several places higher than them.
While it is not unusual for a lower-ranked player to have one or two spells of brilliance during a tennis game, the top seeds are usually able to perform at a higher level for longer stretches of time.
This is quite significant because just about anybody can have a moment or two of extraordinary performance. What separates great achievers from their peers is an ability to perform at a high level for sustained periods of time.

And as it was with Alexander Bublik, that transition though difficult, is not impossible.

Written by Oluwatotan