US Open star took a three-week holiday before turning up and beating former champion

Alexander Bublik is always doing something out of the ordinary. Just when he looked to be on a hot streak - lifting back-to-back titles in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel - he took a break from tennis and skipped the Masters 1000 tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati.

The No. 23 seed at the US Open picked up exactly where he left off when he returned to competition in Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, handily beating former champion Marin Cilic. But he admitted he didn't have the best preparation, taking a three-week holiday before the last Major of the season.

Bublik has been one of the most in-form players of the last few months. He stormed into the French Open quarter-finals while ranked down at No. 62 in the world, beating Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper en route.

The Kazakh followed it up by upsetting Jannik Sinner on his way to lifting the Halle Open trophy. And he bounced back from an early Wimbledon exit to win two consecutive titles on clay, one of his least favourite surfaces.

Bublik hadn't been seen since he claimed the crown in Kitzbuhel at the end of July. He didn't enter any pre-US Open hard-court tournaments and received a brutal draw in New York, facing former world No. 3 Cilic.

But he was back on top form on Tuesday, taking out the 2014 champion 6-4 6-1 6-4 on the Grandstand arena. It seemed Bublik surprised even himself with how quickly he adjusted to the conditions in Flushing Meadows after jetting off on a lengthy holiday.

"My preparation was not really convincing, I was on vacation for three weeks and I was not sure how I would feel on court," Bublik said in his on-court interview.

"But I came here, I stepped on the court, I felt like today is probably going to be a good day so I mean, I used my chances, I served well, I played really well for my standard, so yeah, I'm really happy."

The world No. 24 is now on a nine-match winning streak. But when told he was in good form, he simply replied: "Yeah, I guess. What do you want me to say?

"Yes, I was playing quite well in the past months, but in tennis things quickly change, and I just try to put my feet on the ground, work hard, and see how it goes."

Bublik also addressed his unorthodox approach to tennis. Earlier this year, a boozy trip to Las Vegas helped him reignite his passion for the sport, and he's happy to keep doing things in his own way.

"I always wanted to play long, to have a long career. If I just play every week, work hard every week, I probably would be burned out by 29, so I don't think you guys want me to leave, so let me be in peace and see how it goes!" he smiled.

Bublik will now face either Lorenzo Sonego or Tristan Schoolkate as he looks to keep his winning streak alive.

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