Belgian tennis player Alexander Blockx withdraws from Paris Masters with ankle injury
The gist
Belgian tennis player Alexander Blockx withdrew from the Rolex Paris Masters with an ankle injury hours before his first-round match.
The 21-year-old had not won a match since his US Open quarter-final run.
How it unfolded
- May 27, 2026Blockx withdrew from the French Open after spraining his right ankle in practice, tripping over rolled-up court covers; he said he heard a "snap".
- Sep 7, 2026Blockx beat No. 24 seed Francisco Cerundolo to reach his first major quarter-final at the US Open, becoming the youngest Belgian major quarter-finalist in the Open Era.
- Sep 9, 2026Blockx retired in his US Open quarter-final against Karen Khachanov at 6-2, 7-5, 3-2, citing rib pain and physical exhaustion.