Alexander Blockx, unseeded and ranked No. 69, achieved a remarkable upset by defeating defending champion Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal at the Madrid Open.
Blockx had not won an ATP Tour match on clay prior to April 2026. His victory over Ruud marks him as the fourth-lowest-ranked player to reach the semifinals in the tournament’s history. The match lasted 96 minutes, during which Blockx converted three out of seven break points.
This month alone, Blockx has defeated three seeded players: No. 28 Brandon Nakashima, No. 3 Félix Auger-Aliassime, and No. 16 Francisco Cerundolo. He is also the second man born in 2005 or later to reach the last four at a Masters 1000 event.
Blockx expressed pride in his recent performance. “I’m proud of how I’ve played these past couple of matches. I think the conditions suit me well here,” he said after the match. He also added, “To be honest, I’m just happy with being here.” This reflects his journey as he previously finished as runner-up at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2025 and began this season with an ATP Challenger title.
Key statistics:
- Blockx is currently ranked No. 69 in the world.
- He is 21 years old.
- Blockx has won four matches against Top 20 opponents this month.
- This victory was his first against a defending champion at a Masters event.
Observers note that Blockx’s performance could signal a bright future on the ATP Tour. His ability to handle pressure and convert break points will be crucial as he advances in the tournament. The next challenge for Blockx will be against either Alexander Zverev or Flavio Cobolli in the semifinals.
