ATP Madrid Open Quarter-Finals Round-up | Zverev continues Masters 1000 semi-final streak against Cobolli as Blockx stuns reigning champion Ruud

After Jannik Sinner and Arthur Fils snatched up the first two semi-final spots in the Madrid Open, there were another two left on offer for the other four quarterfinalists to claim. The other two spots would go to Alexander Zverev after he got the better of Flavio Cobolli, and Alexander Blockx who prolonged his imperious form on clay against the 2025 champion Casper Ruud.

Reigning champion Ruud will drop out of the top 20 for the first time since 2021 after losing to Blockx 6-4, 6-4. It is a third consecutive top 20 win for the Belgian as his fine clay swing goes from strength to strength in Madrid.

After getting the better of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerundolo without dropping a set, his clash against Ruud seemed like an untimely one for the Norwegian. It proved the case early on. After failing to convert a break point, Blockx punished him emphatically, breaking to love to seize the initiative.

Ruud fought back, getting back on level terms at 4-4 with an exciting end to the set in prospect. The 21-year-old kept his composure and did brilliant to break to set himself up with a chance to serve the first set out. It took a few goes to get over the line, but at the fourth time of asking Blockx edged within one set of a first Masters semi-final.

The three-time Grand Slam finalist was not going to let him have it all his own way. He created another break opportunity but once more was not clinical enough. Three games later, Blockx stormed ahead. After what seemed like another break to love, Ruud’s fightback was halted n the nick of time as he closed in on the biggest win of his career.

Two match points on the Ruud serve were dealt with in a similar vein to his prior match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The difference being that Blockx was not going to let his opponent back into the match. He swiftly wrapped it up with his fourth match point for a glorious victory in Madrid.

It is now five consecutive Masters 1000 semi-finals reached by Zverev. The world number three defeated Cobolli 6-1, 6-4 to continue his streak of last-four appearances in 2026.

The first set was a masterclass from Zverev. He found the service box 18 of his 20 first serve attempts, racking up eight aces while dropping only four points on serve. Cobolli was hapless to this, not even making a dent.

That was not the most problematic aspect, though. Four double faults from his first eight service points allowed Zverev to steal a march, breaking the serve twice as he sailed into a 4-0 lead. Cobolli prevented the bagel by a timely hold to love by the number two seed sealed the first set in ominous fashion.

Zverev was hunting for revenge after what happened on home soil. Cobolli got the better of him in the Munich Open semi-final in straight sets, a big surprise. Without a title or even a final appearance in 2026, that was another opportunity cruelly snatch away from the German.

The onslaught continued in the second set. The number 10 seed was pinned against the wall in the first game of the second set, forced to deflect three break points. He managed to do this, but the warning signs were there.

More heat was directed towards the electronic line calling. In the women’s semi-finals, Mirra Andreeva had a long discussion about this topic, and Zverev would also share his negative feelings surrounding this contentious technology. While this occurred, Cobolli continued the holds to lead 2-1. He managed to stay in front after winning five consecutive points to salvage a perilous predicament where Zverev had three points to break.

It was relatively tight from there. Cobolli had started to match the challenge of Zverev and kept tabs with his opponent. That was until the two-time champion nicked a late break. He made hard work of it when serving the match out, surviving two break points before finishing it off in the end, confirming a fourth semi-final in Madrid. He has gone on to reach the final in all the other tournaments, a good omen to tomorrow’s clash against Blockx in the evening session.