dailyloe.com – Alexander Blockx, a 21-year-old from Antwerp, entered the Mutua Madrid Open after late withdrawals allowed him to bypass qualifying. He has since reached his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final at the Caja Magica. On Friday, Blockx will face two-time Madrid champion and second seed Alexander Zverev.
This match presents a significant challenge for Blockx, who must overcome an experience gap against Zverev. Blockx, a competitor in the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals, began April without a main-draw appearance at a clay-court ATP Tour event. In contrast, this will be Zverev’s 11th Masters 1000 semi-final on clay.
After defeating defending champion Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals, Blockx expressed newfound confidence on clay. “I never have [had] too much confidence on clay the last couple of years. But I think I cannot say that anymore with the results I am doing,” he stated. He noted improvements in his game and mentioned that the faster conditions in Madrid suit him.
Blockx’s upcoming match against Zverev will be their first meeting. Zverev has reached the semi-finals in all four Masters 1000 events this season, a feat accomplished by only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Jannik Sinner since 1990. Zverev respects Blockx, stating, “He’s a young player, new player. I think he has great spirit when he is on the tennis court.”
Zverev holds a strong record in Madrid, with a 13-0 record against players ranked outside the Top 30, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. He has reached the final at the tournament three times and has more career wins in Madrid (29) than Blockx has played at the tour level.
