Blockx rocking to beat champion Ruud and reach Madrid Open semi-finals

Belgian is fourth lowest-ranked player to reach last four

Mirra Andreeva sees off late challenge against Hailey Baptiste

Alexander Blockx’s dream run in Madrid continues with the 21-year-old Belgian beating the defending champion Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open on Thursday.

The 69th-ranked emerging talent had not won an ATP Tour match on clay before his third-round run in Monte Carlo three weeks ago. He has also defeated the third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerúndolo on his way to the last four in the Spanish capital.