OEIRAS/STARNBERG, January 26, 2025
The trilogy of Indoor Oeiras Open ATP Challenger Tour tournaments, held at the indoor courts of the Jamor Tennis Complex in Oeiras, concluded with Belgian Alexander Blockx crowned as champion.
Following in the footsteps of Carlos Alcaraz in 2021, Arthur Fils in 2023, and Hamad Medjedovic earlier in 2025, World No. 203 Blockx etched his name into the history of this iconic Portuguese venue. He secured his victory with a commanding 7-5, 6-1 win over Canadian Liam Draxl in Sunday’s singles final.
Draxl, who had previously reached the singles final at the Indoor Oeiras Open 1 and won the doubles title the day before, was unable to complete a celebratory weekend as Blockx outclassed him. With the win, the 19-year-old Belgian not only broke into the Top 200 but also climbed into the Top 150 for the first time.
In their first-ever meeting, the match was dictated entirely by Blockx, a former Australian Open junior champion and Junior World No. 1. Utilizing a more aggressive game, the Antwerp native exploited Draxl’s more passive style. Blockx did not face a single break point, steadily asserting dominance. The turning point came when he secured the first service break in the 12th game of the opening set to take it 7-5. From that moment, the match was firmly in his control and Blockx secure victory in one hour and 25 minutes.
There’s a new kid on the Block(x)!
19-year-old Alexander Blockx defeats Liam Draxl 7-5, 6-1 to claim his second @ATPChallenger title and secure both top 200 and top 150 debuts after a golden week here at the Indoor Oeiras Open. pic.twitter.com/0khbiJ3tSB
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 26, 2025
“I had a bit of luck at the end of the first set, but in the second, I played with much more confidence and noticed that he was struggling physically,” the new champion admitted. “I played a very solid match, made few mistakes, and advanced whenever I had the chance. I’m happy with my level.”
Blockx highlighted Draxl’s qualities, saying: “He retrieves a lot of balls and is very fast, but that gives me the time to accelerate my shots. Because of that, I was able to play a more aggressive game, especially on my forehand, and approach the net often. For players who struggle to finish points, he’s a nightmare. But for me, this was my best match of the week in terms of strategy.”
Arriving in Portugal just outside the Top 200, Blockx’s impressive performance this week ensured his debut in the Top 150, rising to No. 146 in Monday’s updated ATP Rankings. This places him in a strong position to soon break into the coveted Top 100—a milestone he’s determined to reach, defending just 72 points over the next six months.
“It’s better to celebrate a Grand Slam title, like [Jannik] Sinner,” he remarked. As for his goals, Blockx said, “It would be great to end the year playing in the Next Gen ATP Finals. Last year, I watched several players my age compete there, and it motivated me to aim for it this year.” He finally conceded that breaking into the Top 100 this year “would be an amazing achievement. If it doesn’t happen this year, it will happen next year or the year after. Everything in its own time.”
By winning his second ATP Challenger Tour career title following his maiden triumph in Kobe last year, the teenager earned €20,630 in prize money as well as 100 ATP Ranking points.
