Blockx continues 'dream' run by eliminating defending champion Ruud in Madrid
Alexander Blockx 's dream run in Madrid continues. The 21-year-old emerging talent from Belgium defeated defending champion Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open on Thursday. The 69th-ranked Blockx had not won an ATP Tour match on clay before his third-round run in Monte Carlo three weeks ago.
MADRID (AP) — Alexander Blockx 's dream run in Madrid continues. The 21-year-old emerging talent from Belgium defeated defending champion Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open on Thursday. The 69th-ranked Blockx had not won an ATP Tour match on clay before his third-round run in Monte Carlo three weeks ago.
He's also defeated third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerundolo on his way to the last four in the Spanish capital. "To be honest, I’m just happy with being here,” Blockx said. “Even winning my first match here.
I barely escaped in the first round and I was happy about that already. Semifinals is something I wouldn’t have even dreamed of to begin with. " Blockx became the fourth lowest-ranked player to reach the semifinals in Madrid, according to the ATP.
He is the second man born in 2005 or later to reach the last four at a Masters 1000 after Jakub Mensik, who won in Miami in 2025. “I’m proud of how I’ve played these past couple of matches,” Blockx said. “The conditions suit me well here.