Alexander Blockx, the 28th seed, eliminated fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 on Saturday in the third round of the US Open 2026. The 21-year-old Belgian became the first player from his country to defeat a top-10 opponent at Flushing Meadows since Olivier Rochus in 2000.
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A tight first set, then a masterclass
Cobolli took the first-set tiebreak 7-4, appearing to seize control of the match. But Blockx responded with relentless intensity from the second set onward. The Belgian reeled off eleven consecutive games from 2-3 in the second set through 1-0 in the fourth, inflicting a crushing 6-0 bagel on the Italian in the third set along the way. Cobolli, ranked seventh in the world and the highest remaining seed in the quarter, found no answer to his opponent's serving power.
A dominant serve
Blockx fired 17 aces during the match and won 86% of first-serve points. Those numbers suffocated any comeback attempt from Cobolli, who was denied time on the return and unable to settle into rallies. In 2 hours and 45 minutes, the Belgian confirmed the form that had already earned him a top-10 victory earlier this season.
A wide-open quarter of the draw
With the exits of Cobolli and ninth seed Taylor Fritz, the 2024 finalist, this quarter of the men's draw has lost its top contenders. Blockx will face Francisco Cerúndolo in the round of 16, for a quarterfinal spot that seemed out of reach at the start of the fortnight. At just 21, the Belgian is competing in only his second career Grand Slam. (Sources: ATP Tour)
