Tennis player Alexander Bublik smashes three racquets during loss

By Aimee Lewis, CNN

Updated 1217 GMT (2017 HKT) February 11, 2023

Alexander Bublik smashes three rackets during Open Sud de France loss

(CNN)Breaking one racquet is unfortunate, destroying three might be considered foolish. Frustration got the better of Alexander Bublik as the tennis player sensationally lost his cool during a first-round match in Montpellier, France.

The 25-year-old was competing at the Open Sud de France as defending champion. He surprisingly lost the first set, but bounced back to take the match against the unseeded Gregoire Barrere to a deciding third set. Alexander Bublik's title defense ended in defeat.Bublik, the world number 50, promisingly moved 4-2 ahead in the third set, but then things started to unravel for the sixth seed. In the tiebreak, with Bublik coughing up three double faults and falling 6-0 behind, his composure failed him and he smashed his racquet on the court five times. He then walked to his bag to get another racquet, which he also proceeded to whack on the floor. Not quite done, he grabbed another racquet and repeatedly banged that one on the court. Unsurprisingly, he was warned for racquet abuse. Read MoreHis title defense came to an early end as Barrere advanced to the second round with a 6-4 6-7 (12) 7-6 (3) victory, with Bublik's 14 double faults proving costly.