Zverev Primed for Epic Showdown with Sinner in Madrid Final
German tennis star triumphs over 21-year-old Blockx
May 01, 2026
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Alexander Zverev aims for a historic third title at the Madrid Open.
By Sam Jacot
Alexander Zverev is gearing up for another thrilling encounter against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
The talented German secured his spot in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open with a convincing 6-2, 7-5 victory over Belgian rising star Alexander Blockx on Friday night, further solidifying his exceptional history at this tournament. With this win, Zverev notched his 30th triumph in Madrid, joining legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as only the third player to reach the finals here four times.
“I’m ecstatic to be in the final,” Zverev expressed. “It’s been a tough journey, particularly at the tournament’s outset. I’m eager to face Jannik again and expect a challenging match. May the best player emerge victorious on Sunday.”
The second seed rolled past Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals, losing a mere five games, carrying that momentum decisively into his semi-final with Blockx, who remarkably hadn’t clinched a tour-level clay-court victory until last month.
Right from the first serve, Zverev established dominance. He showcased his powerful game against Blockx in the lively conditions, demonstrating superior consistency throughout longer rallies. After an impressive 1 hour and 35 minutes, the seven-time Masters 1000 champion secured a place in his first final of the season, setting up a familiar face-off against Sinner.
This Sunday marks their fifth consecutive meeting in a Masters 1000 event, with the Italian holding the upper hand, winning the last four encounters without dropping a set. This impressive run has bolstered Sinner’s return to World No. 1, positioning him on the brink of making history as no player has yet claimed five successive Masters 1000 titles since the tournament’s inception in 1990.
Nevertheless, Zverev finds solace in his rich history in Madrid, where he has been a two-time champion. In contrast, this marks Sinner’s first venture into the final of this clay-court event.
“He’s quite a laid-back player and seems to be enjoying the game right now,” Zverev noted when asked about Sinner. “Tennis appears to come effortlessly to him. However, maybe on Sunday, I can make things a bit tougher for him… I haven’t had much success in our last eight meetings. He’s undoubtedly the best player on the tour right now, and I’ll be aiming to give him a serious challenge.”
Zverev raced through the opening set against Blockx but had to demonstrate patience in an intriguing second set. Blockx, a competitor at the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals, saved seven break points before Zverev made a crucial breakthrough in the 11th game. Battling back from 0/40, he capitalized on a fortunate net cord to secure the pivotal break and served out the match with confidence.
Blockx leaves Madrid climbing 34 places to No. 35 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, making his mark as just the third Belgian to reach the Masters 1000 semi-finals, with noteworthy victories over top-20 players like Felix Auger-Aliassime, Casper Ruud, and Francisco Cerundolo.
