After Jannik Sinner and Arthur Fils secured their spots in the semifinals, the second day of quarterfinal clashes at the Mutua Madrid Open brought us the completion of the semifinal matchups. Alexander Zverev confirmed his status as a favorite and a two-time champion at the Caja Magica, while the young Belgian Alexander Blockx wrote another incredible page in his tennis fairytale, taking the scalp of yet another top-tier player.
Here is a detailed review of today’s matches and the statistics that decided the winners.
Alexander Zverev vs Flavio Cobolli: The Routine of a Two-Time Champion (2-0)
After Italian Flavio Cobolli shocked Daniil Medvedev in the Round of 16, an unpredictable match was expected. However, Alexander Zverev (2) showed why he is one of the best players in the world on this surface, celebrating with a score of 2-0 (6-1, 6-4) in 1 hour and 32 minutes of play.
The German imposed his rhythm from the very beginning and absolutely dominated the first set, not allowing Cobolli to catch any momentum. In the second set, a bigger fight was seen, but Zverev’s quality prevailed in key moments.
Key Statistics:
- Nerves of Steel: Cobolli fought hard in the second set and earned the only two break points in the match, but Zverev saved both (2/2), denying his opponent a comeback.
- Aggressiveness and Serve: Zverev hit 18 winners, with high efficiency on his first serve, winning 82% (32/39) of the points when he landed it. His baseline solidity was simply too much for the tired Italian.
Alexander Blockx vs Casper Ruud: The Belgian Sensation Does Not Plan to Stop (2-0)
We thought that victories over Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerundolo were his maximum at this tournament, but Alexander Blockx shocked the tennis world again! The young Belgian eliminated the 12th seed, Norwegian clay-court specialist Casper Ruud, in the quarterfinals with a score of 2-0 (6-4, 6-4) in 1 hour and 35 minutes of play.
Blockx played a tactically perfect match, completely disarming Ruud. The pressure he constantly put on the Norwegian’s serve paid off, allowing him to make 3 breaks (converting 3 out of 7 opportunities).
Key Statistics:
- Flawless Net Play: The Belgian was incredibly brave and precise at the net, realizing an impressive 85% (11/13) of the points when he moved forward.
- Dominance on First Serve: Whenever he landed his first serve (which was only in 51% of cases), Blockx was almost unstoppable, winning 85% (28/33) of those points.
- Opponent’s Frustration: The Belgian’s aggressive and varied game forced the usually calm Ruud into a staggering 23 unforced errors (compared to Blockx’s 16).
All four spots in the semifinals are now filled! Exciting matches await us in the battle for the final.
For all the latest results, the complete semifinal schedule, and match analysis, visit our central report: 👉 ATP Madrid Hub: Live Scores and Schedule.
