Article by Roxana Fleşeru – Published Friday, 01 May 2026 22:49 / Updated Friday, 01 May 2026 22:53
Alexander Zverev (29 years old, 3 ATP) defeated Belgian Alexander Blockx (21 years old, 69 ATP) 6-2, 7-5 in the semifinals of the Madrid tournament on Friday. The German reached his fourth final at the Caja Magica, after those played in 2018, 2021 and 2024, and his opponent will be Jannik Sinner.
“The time has come to get rid of this curse of the semi-finals,” said Alexander Zverev ahead of his penultimate set clash with Belgium's Alexander Blockx.
The German had stopped five times in this phase in 2026: Australian Open (Carlos Alcaraz), Indian Wells (Jannik Sinner), Miami (Jannik Sinner), Monte-Carlo (Jannik Sinner) and Munich (Flavio Cobolli). This season, only in Acapulco did he fail to reach the semifinals.
After getting revenge on Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals at the Caja Magica, Alexander Zverev defeated Alexander Blockx, who was in the semi-finals of a Masters 1,000 tournament for the first time, 6-2, 7-5.
Alexander Zverev returns to the final in Madrid
The first set belonged entirely to Zverev, who showed off his strong and aggressive game, impressing the Spanish crowd with his few comings to the net as well. In the second part, things were more balanced. However, Zverev broke at the right time late in the set to advance to his fourth final at the Caja Magica.
The German won on clay in Madrid in 2018 and 2021, losing in 2024. Friday's qualification puts him alongside Nadal, who has played in eight finals, and Federer, who has played in five.
In the final act on Sunday, he will meet Jannik Sinner, the world leader leading the head-to-head meetings 9-4, the last meeting taking place in Monte-Carlo in the semi-finals, when the Italian prevailed.
It will be Alexander Zverev's 13th Masters 1,000 final, seven of which have been on clay, which puts him tied with Tomas Muster for fourth in Masters 1,000 tournament history.
40 finalsplayed Alexander Zverev in his career until Madrid Open 2026, winning 26
In addition to Madrid, Zverev won the Masters 1,000 tournaments in Paris (2024), Rome (2024, 2017), Cincinnati (2021), Canada (2017), playing in the finals in Paris (2020), Shanghai (2019), Rome (2018), Miami (2018).
