Alexander Blockx, Madrid Open semifinalist, is ready for a bigger tennis court in every sense

Alexander Blockx, a 21-year-old Belgian tennis player ranked world No. 69, reached the semifinals of the Madrid Open by defeating defending champion Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner had praised Blockx the previous evening as an underrated talent after his own match at the tournament. Blockx, who previously won two ATP Challenger Tour events on hard courts in 2025, acknowledged he has historically lacked confidence on clay but said his recent results have changed that outlook.