Blockx's Body Breaks But Stock Rises at US Open

Karen Khachanov is into the US Open semi-finals, but this was not the ending anyone wanted.

Midway through the third set, with the score locked at 1-1, Alexander Blockx walked to the net, extended his hand and called it. His body had finally given in. His reputation, if anything, grew.

“Blockx has nothing left,” Nick Lester said in commentary as the Belgian youngster conceded, the handshake brisk but respectful. The match slipped away, yet the impression he left did not.

Blockx’s body breaks, his stock rises

Blockx arrived in New York as a 21-year-old making his main-draw US Open debut. He leaves as a quarterfinalist whose game and grit have been talked about all week.

The warning signs had been there. Blisters. A rib problem coming into the match. Treatment on his back at the change of ends. Another medical timeout between sets. Each pause added another layer of concern in his box, where anxious faces started to ask the same question: how far is too far?

Still he pushed on, refusing to limp through points or gift Khachanov cheap games. He moved, he swung, he competed.

“We can see what a great competitor he is … I give him so much credit for continuing competing because he doesn't want to retire and he wants to stay out here on the court and finish the match,” Jelena Dokic said on Nine, as Blockx battled on despite the mounting issues.

But the dilemma was obvious.

“If you've got this many injuries and depending on also what they are, especially the rib as well … you've got to think, ‘can I do more damage here as well?’”

The pressure finally told. After dropping the second set to Khachanov, his body stopped matching his will. The decision to quit midway through the third was brutal but inevitable.

“He’s showing incredible competitive spirit. This also actually sends a big message to the locker room as well – everyone is always watching,” Dokic added. “He's going to stay out there, that he's a great competitor. He's just 21! To stay out here and keep playing is an incredible effort.”

Robbie Koenig, watching the same drama unfold, looked beyond the scoreline.

“He’s had some great wins, played some mesmerising tennis, especially against Flavio Cobolli,” Koenig said. “We are going to see a lot more of this young man in the years to come – fingers crossed that he can stay healthy for long periods of time. He's got such an exciting game, he's got such a great attitude out on the court and he's got a big time mentality."

Khachanov moves on to the last four. Blockx moves on with something more intangible but just as valuable in a locker room that never forgets who fights and who folds.

Tiley promises look at marathon schedule

While Blockx’s body gave way, the US Open schedule is also creaking under strain.

New USTA chief executive Craig Tiley has promised a review after another astonishingly late finish in New York. On Wednesday (AEST), the men’s quarterfinal between Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton did not start until after 11pm local time. Shelton’s winning ace came at 3.33am.

Tiley, who stepped into the role after a long tenure running Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, pointed out that all four matches on the day went the distance, three of them to 10-point deciding tiebreaks.

"If you look back at schedules, you don't get that ever. So that was particularly special," he told Stan Sports. “The stadium was full. Everyone was loving it. We had people watching from all around the world. It was a great time for many people – not necessarily for everyone having to stay up here late and watch it – but it’s just one of those things.

"One thing we always do at the end of every event, we have a look and see what's worked best. Scheduling is also on that list. We'll always look at our options."

The numbers behind that marathon day were eye-watering. Aryna Sabalenka edged Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) in 2 hours 22 minutes in the day session, before Frances Tiafoe dragged himself past Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in 4 hours 39 minutes.

Those two epics pushed the night session back by almost two hours. When it finally began, Jess Pegula needed 2 hours 21 minutes to beat Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Then came the Alcaraz–Shelton thriller: 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in 4 hours 28 minutes, ending with New York’s hardcore still roaring in the early hours.

Gauff channels Tiafoe’s Arthur Ashe escape

Coco Gauff watched that Tiafoe comeback. Then she lived her own version.

Up against Mirra Andreeva, Gauff dropped the first set and stared down match points in the second-set tiebreak. The teenager refused to blink, turning the match around and clawing her way to a three-set victory, lifted by the same Arthur Ashe energy that had carried Tiafoe the night before.

"I came out not feeling the ball, giving her too many free points, and Mirra is playing at a great level," Gauff admitted in her on-court interview.

"To be honest I was thinking about Frances Tiafoe and how he came back yesterday. We all want to do well in front of this crowd.

“I was just trying to leave this court with no regrets, I didn’t know how the outcome would go, but really, really thank you to you guys. You really pulled me through.”

Her reward is a semifinal on Friday (AEST) against the new standard-bearer of the women’s game.

Rybakina rises to No.1

The WTA Tour wakes up with a new world No.1.

Aryna Sabalenka’s reign, which stretched an extraordinary 99 weeks, is over. Since Ash Barty’s sudden retirement in 2022, only Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek had held the top ranking. That duopoly has been broken.

Elena Rybakina, already into the semifinals in New York, sealed the top spot by beating Qinwen Zheng in three sets. She will officially climb to No.1 when the rankings are updated on Monday, dislodging Sabalenka even though the Belarusian is still alive in the tournament.

“It’s just a number right now and of course I’m in the semis so my goal is to win the tournament,” Rybakina said. “It’s an amazing achievement but you know how quick everything can change in tennis, ranking-wise, during the match, so I feel like I just need to focus on my game, try to recover and enjoy tomorrow.”

A young Belgian limping out mid-match, a new No.1 crowned, a governing body wrestling with 3.33am finishes, and a home hope drawing strength from another’s miracle comeback – this US Open is not easing into its final weekend. It’s accelerating.