Alexander Blockx, a 21-year-old Belgian, made a surprising run to the semifinals of the Madrid Open, defeating multiple seeded players along the way. He achieved this milestone on May 1, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
Blockx’s journey included victories over notable opponents. He defeated Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals with a score of 6-4, 6-4. This victory marked him as the first Belgian man to reach the semifinals at the Madrid Open.
Before this tournament, Blockx was ranked No. 69 in the world. He won four consecutive matches against seeded players to advance. Notably, he had never won an ATP Tour match on clay prior to this event.
His performance was impressive. Blockx’s average first serve speed was 130 mph, with a top speed of 137 mph. He also won 58% of baseline points against Ruud.
Blockx’s run ended in the semifinals against Alexander Zverev, who defeated him 6-2, 7-5. Despite this loss, Blockx rose 34 places to No. 35 in the live rankings after the tournament.
Blockx expressed surprise at his performance, stating, “I never thought I would get that far.” He emphasized his strategy: “The idea was to be as unpredictable as possible.” His success has raised expectations for his future on the ATP Tour.
Earlier this year, Blockx had some good results on the ATP Challenger Tour, winning two events and reaching the semifinals of another. His recent achievements suggest he may continue to climb in rankings and perform well in upcoming tournaments.
About The Author
