MADRID — Alexander Blockx is living the dream in Madrid!
The 21-year-old rising star from Belgium stunned defending champion Casper Ruud, triumphing 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open on Thursday.
Ranked 69th, Blockx had not tasted victory on the ATP Tour’s clay surface prior to his impressive third-round performance in Monte Carlo just three weeks ago. Along the way, he also took down third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerundolo to secure his spot in the semifinal round in the Spanish capital.
“Honestly, I’m just thrilled to be here,” Blockx expressed. “Winning my first match was a big deal for me. I was delighted even after that narrow escape in the opening round. Making it to the semifinals is something I couldn’t have imagined!”
According to the ATP, Blockx is now the fourth-lowest-ranked player to reach the semifinals in Madrid. He also stands out as the second player born in 2005 or later to make it to the last four at a Masters 1000 event, following Jakub Mensik, who lifted the trophy in Miami in 2025.
“I’m really proud of my performance over these past few matches,” Blockx stated. “The conditions here suit me perfectly. The slow clay gives me time to set up and execute my shots, while the high altitude keeps things quick at times. It’s the ideal mix for my game.”
Blockx holds an impressive 4-2 record against top-20 contenders, with all four victories occurring this month.
“From the first game, I felt I was hitting the ball really well and making lots of returns,” he noted. “Once I secured my opening game, I was fully immersed in the match.”
With this defeat, Ruud is set to drop out of the top 20 for the first time since May 2021.
