Alexander Blockx Reaches US Open Quarterfinals with Upset Over Francisco Cerundolo

Overcoming Physical Adversity on the Grand Stage

The match turned on a mixture of resilience and timely medical intervention for the Antwerp native. Blockx stated that he began feeling sharp pain near his rib during the second game of the match, forcing him to adapt his game while trying to stay competitive against the 24th-seeded Argentine.

«J’ai commencé à sentir une douleur aigue à la côte dès le deuxième jeu», Blockx explained after the match, detailing the area treated by tournament medical staff. «Après ça, le médecin m’a donné un traitement magique, qui m’a permis de continuer».

The treatment proved effective as the match wore on. By the conclusion of the third set, the Belgian player noted that the discomfort had subsided substantially, allowing him to close out the fourth set and secure a four-set victory that pushed him into the tournament’s final eight.

Making Belgian Tennis History at Flushing Meadows

With this victory over world No. 25 Cerúndolo, the 34th-ranked Blockx became the first male player from Belgium to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open singles tournament. The milestone marks a major breakthrough for the former junior world No. 1, who described the atmosphere inside the venue’s massive stadium as surreal.

«Ce matin, je suis monté sur le court pour la première fois pour m’échauffer et c’était déjà surréaliste. Gagner un match ici, c’est encore plus fou», Blockx remarked regarding his experience competing on the premier court in New York.

The win follows his earlier tournament success against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, underlining a strong hard-court run for the young competitor on the major circuit.

Next Steps in the New York Draw

Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, Blockx faces a quick turnaround as he prepares to meet the winner of the fourth-round match between America’s Learner Tien and Russia’s Karen Khachanov. Tournament officials scheduled the upcoming quarterfinal match to take place two days following his victory over Cerúndolo, giving the Belgian competitor a brief window to recover from his rib injury and prepare for the next round of the tournament.