Blockx Withdraws From Roland Garros, Sending de Minaur Into Third Round

blockx madrid r16

By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook

Roland Garros came to a painfully premature end for Alexander Blockx.

Madrid semifinalist Blockx withdrew from Roland Garros today due to a sprained right ankle he sustained in practice.

The 21-year-old Belgian beat qualifier Coleman Wong 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in his French Open first-round match, but is unable to post for tomorrow’s scheduled second-rounder and pulled out of Paris.

Blockx’s withdrawal sends Alex de Minaur into the third round.

The eighth-seeded de Minaur will play either Argentinean Mariano Navone or 26th-seeded Czech Jakub Mensik, the last man to defeat No. 1 Jannik Sinner, for a spot in the round of 16.

“I’ve always preferred hot and lively conditions to chilly on a clay court, because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of my all-court tennis on this type of surface,” de Minaur said. “It’s easier to be a little bit more aggressive. You know, the ball is jumping.

“I don’t necessarily have to use as much spin or heaviness, and I can let the conditions do the job for me. And, also, it’s quite physical, right? I don’t mind the heat.”

Richard Pagliaro is Tennis Now Managing Editor. He is a graduate of New York University and has covered pro tennis for more than 35 years. Richard was tennis columnist for Gannett Newspapers in NY, served as Managing Editor for TennisWeek.com and worked as a writer/editor for Tennis.com. He has been TennisNow.com managing editor since 2010.

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