Blockx sneaks into the top eight at the US Open and makes history for Belgium

Alexander Blockx already has a place in the history of Belgian tennis. At just 21 years old, the player born in 2005 defeated Francisco Cerúndolo (6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5) in his debut at Arthur Ashe and qualified for the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time. A huge victory on the biggest stage of tennis.

The Belgian managed the pressure of a match that demanded he step up against a more experienced opponent. “Pressure is a privilege,” summarizes a mentality that Blockx demonstrated on the court. After four sets and more than two hours of battle, the Belgian sealed a victory that means much more than just advancing a round.

Blockx became the first male player born in 2005 to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open. Furthermore, he is the third tennis player of his generation to make it to the last eight of a Grand Slam in 2026, after Learner Tien, who did it at the Australian Open, and Jakub Menšík, who achieved the same feat at Roland Garros.

A historic day for Belgium

His qualification also has a national dimension. Blockx is the first Belgian male tennis player of the Open Era to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open. A barrier that remained intact until this spectacular run by the young player. And there is still a statistical curiosity. The final score had only occurred once before in a Grand Slam match of the Open Era: in 1985, when Jimmy Connors defeated Tarik Benhabiles at Roland Garros. Blockx is no longer a surprise in New York; he is history.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Blockx se cuela entre los ocho mejores del US Open y hace historia para Bélgica