Alexander Bublik asked a ball boy to play a point for him during his quarterfinal clash against Aleksandar Kovacevic in the Open Occitanie. Trailing 3-6, 1-5, Bublik had very little hopes of making a comeback to stay alive in the match. It was then that he asked a ball boy for help. Bublik, who is known for being an entertainer on court, gave his racket to the ball boy.

Kovacevic netted the return, drawing applause from the crowd. Bublik also pulled off a string of underarm serves, including three in a row, to hold his serve at 4-1 in the opening set. After winning the match 6-3, 6-2, Kovacevic said that he didn’t expect Bublik to hand over the racket to the ball boy.

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“I was not expecting to play against the ball kid for a point, but you always know there’s going to be something funny with him (Bublik). I mean, I prepared for that. You know, it’s not the first time he’s having fun out here. It’s not a bad thing. It’s fun for the fans also. But for me, obviously, and for any opponent that he has, it’s important to stay locked in and focus,” Kovacevic said in the on-court interview.

Kovacevic will next be up against top seed Andrey Rublev, who got a walkover in his quarterfinal clash against Nikoloz Basilashvili from Georgia.

In the other quarterfinals of the ATP 250 tournament, Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands and Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada came up trumps. While de Jong defeated his compatriot Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (5), 6-4, Felix beat China’s Yunchaokete Bu of China 6-3, 6-4.

Results of Open Occitanie quarterfinals

Andrey Rublev beat Nikoloz Basilashvili (Retired)

Aleksandar Kovacevic beat Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2

Jesper De Jong beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (5), 6-4

Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Yunchaokete Bu 6-3, 6-4