Blockx withdraws from Paris with an ankle injury, Baez enters as a lucky loser

Alexander Blockx has withdrawn from the Rolex Paris Masters with an ankle injury. He is replaced in the main draw by Sebastian Baez, who enters as a lucky loser.

Baez, the top seed in qualifying, had lost to Tomas Machac 6-2, 6-4 in the final qualifying round on Sunday. He takes Blockx’s place against Daniel Merida, third match on Court 2 on Monday. The winner will face 12th seed Tommy Paul or Holger Rune in the second round.

Blockx, 21 and ranked No. 28, had already withdrawn from Brussels and Vienna with an ankle injury. He has not won a match since his run to the US Open quarter-finals.

Rolex Paris Masters 2026, first round

• Lorenzo Musetti vs Hubert Hurkacz: Monday, Court Central
• Luca Van Assche vs Mariano Navone: Monday, Court 1
• Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Learner Tien (15): Tuesday
• Novak Djokovic (10) vs Valentin Vacherot: Tuesday
• Luciano Darderi vs Rinky Hijikata (Q): Monday, Court 1
• Andrey Rublev vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry: Tuesday
• Cameron Norrie vs Matteo Arnaldi: Monday, Court 1
• Mattia Bellucci (Q) vs Lorenzo Sonego (Q): Monday, Court 2
• Arthur Rinderknech vs Francisco Cerundolo (16): Tuesday
• Tommy Paul (12) vs Holger Rune (PR): Tuesday
• Daniel Merida vs Sebastian Baez (LL): Monday, Court 2
• Quentin Halys vs Arthur Fery: Tuesday
• Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) vs Arthur Gea (WC): Tuesday
• Casper Ruud vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Q): Monday, Court Central
• Alejandro Tabilo vs Rafael Jodar (9): Monday, Court Central
• Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (13) vs Moise Kouame (WC): Tuesday
• Denis Shapovalov vs Karen Khachanov: Monday, Court Central
• Ignacio Buse vs Zizou Bergs: Monday, Court 2
• Kyrian Jacquet (WC) vs Tomas Machac (Q): Monday, Court 1
• Alex Molcan (Q) vs Titouan Droguet (WC): Monday, Court 1
• Benjamin Bonzi (Q) vs Taylor Fritz (11): Tuesday
• Brandon Nakashima (14) vs Matteo Berrettini: Tuesday
• Ugo Humbert vs Botic van de Zandschulp: Monday, Court Central
• Alex Michelsen vs Jiri Lehecka: Tuesday