Alexander Blockx is earning his own place at the Mutua Madrid Open 2026. The young Belgian caused a major upset of the day by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round, achieving the first victory of his career against a top-5 player and advancing for the first time to the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 event.
It was no ordinary triumph. Blockx dominated from the service, showed personality in crucial moments, and managed the pressure well. In a Caja Mágica beginning to discover him, the Belgian confirmed that he belongs to the new wave of talent pushing strongly, alongside names like Rafael Jódar and João Fonseca. His next challenge will be Francisco Cerúndolo, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.

Blockx's Opinion on Rafael Jódar
“We get along very well. For instance, I hadn’t seen much of Rafa before the Next Gen Finals, but I knew he was very good in juniors: he won the US Open, was number one... Then he went to college, and in Jeddah was the first time I saw him play. I was very impressed by his level and potential, and now he is proving it. Besides, off the court, he is a great guy, very humble”.
“The same goes for the others. I've known Dino (Prizmic) since we were 10, we played tournaments together in Europe. We have a history from our childhood. In general, I get along with everyone. It's nice to see them doing well too, it motivates me. For example, I watched highlights of Rafa's match against João... what a match! That also motivates me. Seeing those shots, those forehands, and thinking ‘I'm going to try to do that too’. It’s a healthy motivation within our generation”.
His Best Career Victory
“It has been a very special victory today, my first win against a top-5 player, against Felix. He is an amazing player and also a great person off the court. Sharing the court with him is already a privilege, and winning even better”.
Keys to His Game
“When I serve well, I feel mentally freer to try things I normally wouldn’t. Throughout the tournament, I've been serving very well, and today I knew the serve would be crucial. I saved a break point in the first game because he started very aggressively. Then I held my serve throughout the first set. In the tie-break, he made some errors, and I hit good shots at crucial moments. That freed me in the second set, and I think I started playing some of the best tennis of my life. I felt I couldn't lose confidence in my serve or my shots, and simply enjoyed the moment”.
His Nickname on the Circuit
“It seems like Denis Kudla came up with it, so credit goes to him. I think we could find something more intimidating, but for now, it's the most used nickname, so we stick with ‘Block X’”.
本新闻为自动翻译。您可以阅读原始新闻:Blockx opina sobre Rafa Jódar y la nueva generación del tenis

