Alexander Blockx, a 21-year-old Belgian, has made a stunning breakthrough by defeating defending champion Casper Ruud to reach the semifinals of the Madrid Open. Blockx won the match with a score of 6-4, 6-4. This victory marks his first appearance in a Masters 1000 semifinal.
Blockx’s journey in Madrid has been remarkable. He defeated four seeded players, including No. 12 Ruud, No. 3 Félix Auger-Aliassime, No. 16 Francisco Cerundolo, and No. 28 Brandon Nakashima. His performance has drawn attention during this clay-court season.
As of midday Tuesday, Blockx holds the World No. 69 ranking. He previously finished as the runner-up to Learner Tien at the Next Gen ATP Finals last fall.
Key statistics from the match:
- Blockx’s average first serve speed was 130 mph, with a top speed of 137 mph.
- He won 58% of baseline points and 71% of points at the net.
- Ruud matched Blockx with 19 winners but committed 23 unforced errors.
Blockx attributed his increased aggressiveness to physical growth and improved shoulder mobility. He is no longer working with coach Philippe Cassiers, who he partnered with since age four.
Ruud expressed disappointment after the match, stating, “I found it depressing this game because he didn’t really have any weaknesses.” This loss means Ruud will drop out of the Top 20 for the first time since May 2021.
Looking ahead, Blockx aims to continue his strong performance as he progresses through the tournament. His next opponent will be determined later today.