Zverev ends Blockx’s dream run to set up fifth straight Masters final against Sinner
Zverev (No 2) beat Blockx 6-2, 7-5 and will face Sinner (No 1) for the fifth consecutive Masters final on Sunday. He hasn’t beaten him in eight attempts. He knows it. “Maybe on Sunday I’ll manage to make it a bit more difficult for him.” That is where the gap stands.
Alexander Zverev, Madrid 2026 | © Madrid Trophy Promotion
Alexander Zverev, the second seed, ended Alexander Blockx’s remarkable Madrid run with a composed 6-2, 7-5 victory on Friday evening to reach his fourth final at the Mutua Madrid Open. The German becomes the third man alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to achieve that at this event.
Zverev imposed himself from the first game, hitting through Blockx with a power and consistency the 21-year-old had not encountered all week. The Belgian, who had beaten Auger-Aliassime, Cerundolo and Ruud on his way to the last four, found the experience gap Zverev represents at this level in Madrid – where the German has now won 30 matches – too wide to bridge.
Blockx pushed him in the second set, but Zverev held his nerve and closed it out 7-5. “I am very happy to be in the final,” Zverev said. “There were a lot of tough battles, especially at the start of the tournament. I am looking forward to playing Jannik again and looking forward to a tough match. The better player will win on Sunday.”
Sinner – Zverev: 9-4 (and 8-0 recently)
“I never thought I would get that far,” Blockx had said after beating Ruud. “But once you get confident and you feel your game, a lot can happen.” He leaves Madrid having entered the main draw at the last minute on Friday before the tournament began, risen 34 places to No. 35 in the live rankings, and become the third Belgian to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final since the series began in 1990. The week was a statement.
Awaiting Zverev in Sunday’s final is a familiar and formidable opponent. It will be the fifth consecutive Masters 1000 meeting between the two. Sinner has won all four of their most recent encounters at this level, in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo, without dropping a set. Sinner leads their overall head-to-head 9-4 and has won their last eight meetings, including all four of their Masters 1000 encounters this season.
On court on Friday, he was candid about the scale of the task: “I don’t think there will be more pressure on him because if you’re world No 1 you have pressure every single week. I think he’s used to it. Tennis is very, very easy for him right now. Maybe on Sunday I’ll manage to make it a bit more difficult for him.”
Sinner is chasing a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title – a feat no player has achieved in the history of the series.
