ATP Karen Khachanov Alexander Blockx US Open 2026

Khachanov advances to the semifinals after Blockx's withdrawal

Fernando Murciego - 10 Sep 2026
Go to comments seciton
Khachanov advances to semifinals after Blockx's withdrawal. Source: Eurosport

Karen Khachanov is already in the semifinals of the US Open 2026, although in the least desirable way. The Russian benefited from the retirement of Alexander Blockx in the quarterfinals when the score was 6-2, 7-5, 3-2 in favor of the world number 50.

The young Belgian, one of the great revelations of this edition of the tournament, arrived physically diminished after the strain accumulated during his historic journey in New York. Still, he decided to step onto the court and compete, although from the very beginning it was evident that he was not at one hundred percent. Blockx managed to stay on the court for two sets, but after losing the second set, his physical condition reached its limit. 

With 3-2 in the third set and Khachanov's serve, the Belgian suffered another break and decided not to continue. An agonizing farewell for a player who, at just 20 years old, had reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Third Grand Slam semifinal for Khachanov

Khachanov, for his part, reaches the third Grand Slam semifinal of his career, and the first since 2023. The Russian, semifinalist of the US Open in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2023, finds himself among the top four in a major tournament again after several years out of the spotlight.

The match also had a strange setting at Arthur Ashe. Blockx's retirement came shortly after Coco Gauff's victory, so a large part of the audience left the stadium before the night session began. Khachanov, meanwhile, is already awaiting his opponent in the semifinals and is just one match away from returning to a Grand Slam final.

For Blockx, there is a bittersweet feeling of having reached as far as his body allowed. The result does not overshadow an extraordinary week for the Belgian, who leaves New York having become one of the biggest stories of the tournament.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Khachanov avanza a semifinales tras la retirada de Blockx