US EditionBlockx Knocks Out Defending Champion Ruud to Reach Madrid Open Semis
The 21-year-old Belgian reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal after beating two top-20 players and improving to 4-2 against top-20 opponents this month.
- On Thursday, 21-year-old Alexander Blockx defeated defending champion Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the Madrid Open quarterfinals, reaching the semifinals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time.
- Ranked 69th, Blockx had won no ATP Tour clay matches before his Monte Carlo run three weeks ago, making his Madrid breakthrough particularly notable for the fourth lowest-ranked player in the tournament's history.
- Blockx defeated third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerundolo en route to the last four, compiling a 4-2 record against top 20 opponents entirely this month.
- Ruud will exit the top 20 for the first time since May 2021 following the loss, while Blockx becomes the second man born in 2005 or later to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal.
- "Semifinals is something I wouldn't have even dreamed of to begin with," Blockx said, reflecting on conditions that suited his baseline game and aggressive play.
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Blockx converts late Madrid call-up into breakthrough semi-final run
MADRID, May 1 : Alexander Blockx arrived at the Madrid Open expecting to play the qualifying rounds, but the Belgian has made the most of his late promotion to the main draw after a string of withdrawals, riding a wave of confidence to the semi-finals.The 21-year-old toppled seeded players including Brandon N
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Alexander Blockx stuns Casper Ruud to reach Madrid semis
Alexander Blockx won 84.8% (28 of 33) of his first-serve points and stormed his way to a 6-4, 6-4 upset of defending champion Casper Ruud on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Madrid Open.
Alexander Blockx's dream march in Madrid continues.
The Belgian Alexander Blockx, who previously won against Félix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerúndolo at the masters tournament in Madrid, beat title holder Casper Ruud in two sets.
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