Alexander Blockx advanced to his first ATP 250 final at the Millennium Estoril Open with a three-set victory over Luciano Darderi. The Belgian overcame a lost first set and multiple deficits in a match marked by an on-court outburst.
Blockx defeated Darderi 5-7, 7-6(1), 7-6(5) in a two-hour and 45-minute semifinal on July 26. After dropping the opening set, the 21-year-old trailed 1-3 in the second set when he smashed his racket on the clay court and received a code violation.
Before the third set, Blockx handed his broken racket, wristband and towel to young fans in the stands. He then mounted comebacks from 2-5 down in the second set and 4-2 in the third to force a deciding tie-break, which he won after trailing 0-4.
"I have no words to describe this match right now," Blockx said afterward. "I should have lost the match like four times today, so I am just grateful to be able to play tomorrow."
The result made Blockx the youngest Estoril finalist of the decade. He is scheduled to face Luca Van Assche in the final.
