{
  "id": 6189246,
  "title": "Blockx first Belgian man to reach US Open quarter-finals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/blockx-first-belgian-man-to-reach-us-open-quarter-finals",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T22:45:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/08/blockx-first-belgian-man-to-reach-us-open-quarter-finals"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Belgian tennis player Alexander Blockx made history by becoming the first Belgian man to reach the US Open quarter-finals. The 21-year-old, who began the year outside the top 100 rankings and had to qualify for the Australian Open, achieved this feat by defeating 24th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo in four sets. Blockx, seeded 28th, outplayed Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. The young athlete, who previously upset fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli in the third round, received medical assistance during the match to deal with a sharp pain in his rib. Although he won the first set 6-3, Blockx acknowledged that the outcome could have been different. The Belgian player expressed his emotions, stating that this victory marked a significant milestone in his career, having begun the year without even being in the top 100. After winning the first two sets, Blockx and Cerundolo were tied at 5-5 when the Belgian player fell behind 0-40 on his serve. Blockx's determined performance, marked by powerful serves and strong strokes, ultimately led him to break Cerundolo's serve in the final game of the third set. The Belgian tennis star's excitement was palpable as he celebrated upon realizing his opponent's shot had gone out. Blockx's first court experience at the US Open felt surreal, and winning a match there was even more astonishing, he shared. His next opponent will be the winner of a match between unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov and 14th-seeded Learner Tien.",
  "summary": "Alexander Blockx follows his upset of fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli by defeating Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Blockx first Belgian man to reach US Open quarter-finals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/blockx-first-belgian-man-to-reach-us-open-quarter-finals-6192383",
        "published": "2026-09-07T22:45:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Coco Gauff beats Iva Jovic to reach US Open quarter-finals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/coco-gauff-beats-iva-jovic-to-reach-us-open-quarter-finals",
        "published": "2026-09-08T03:03:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}