Blockx’s Jeddah Heartbreak Fuels Tour Ambition
Alexander Blockx fell just short in the Next Gen ATP Finals final, but his poise and power in Jeddah point to a promising 2026 on the ATP Tour.
In the electric hum of Jeddah’s arena, Alexander Blockx chased a breakthrough at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. The 20-year-old Belgian powered through four straight wins to reach the championship match, his debut marked by raw talent and growing grit. Though Learner Tien lifted the trophy on Sunday, Blockx’s week etched lessons that could propel him deeper into pro ranks.
Mastering pressure on fast courts
Blockx arrived in Saudi Arabia with two Challenger titles under his belt from Oeiras-3 and Bratislava-2, climbing to World No. 116. The indoor hard courts demanded quick adjustments, where he leaned on his 6’4” frame to dictate points with heavy serves and baseline bombs. Dropping serve only seven times across five matches, he controlled rallies by stretching opponents with inside-out forehands that forced weak crosscourt replies.
“I think my Serve +1 got a lot better this tournament and I will take that into the new season,” Blockx said. “I also managed the pressure moments really well this week which will give me more confidence on the Tour when I have to play important points in big moments.
Even in the final’s heat, Blockx stayed composed, creating break chances in the last game that sparked crowd cheers. This mental edge, honed from junior battles, turned potential stumbles into stepping stones. His joy amid defeat highlighted a maturity rare for his age, savoring the under-20 intensity before shifting to Tour demands.
“I had a great tournament and I had fun on court today in the final, even when I was losing,” he reflected. “I was just trying to enjoy every moment because it’s the last time I’ll ever experience a match like this. I had a few chances to break him back in the final game and that put a smile on my face. It’s been a really fun 10-11 days that I have been here in Jeddah.”
Serving aces toward main-draw contention
Blockx’s arsenal shone brightest in service games, where he clubbed 125 winners including 50 aces. He opened the final with 24 straight first serves in play, winning the first set 21-0 on points behind them by mixing flat pace with kick that bounced awkwardly off the surface. Tien‘s aggressive returns—stepping inside the baseline to chip with underspin—tested him, but Blockx varied placements to keep the American guessing.
“It wasn’t a plan to go for a high percentage of first serves or for placement,” he explained. The Belgian’s 1–2 pattern, serve followed by a deep inside-in forehand, disrupted rhythm and opened down-the-line backhands that clipped lines. This tactical flexibility, echoing his 2023 Australian Open boys’ final win over Tien in a 11-9 third-set tiebreak, positions him to unsettle higher-ranked foes.
Training block sharpens 2026 edge
As the first Belgian finalist in Next Gen history, Blockx heads to Dubai for a training week before launching his 2026 campaign at the Canberra Challenger and Australian Open qualifying. The Jeddah run amplified his power game on fast hard courts, where fluid movement belies his height during lateral slides. Refining serve variety and pressure holds will bridge his Challenger success to Tour breakthroughs.
“Even though it’s been a very good week I’m going to get back to training next week and get ready for the new season,” Blockx said. With eyes on Australia’s bounce, his inside-out patterns and topspin depth could pressure veterans early. Jeddah’s fire now simmers into fuel, ready to ignite a breakout year.
