OEIRAS/STARNBERG, January 25, 2025
Belgian teenager Alexander Blockx and Liam Draxl of Canada advanced to the singles final of the third and final Indoor Oeiras Open, taking place at the indoor courts of the Jamor Tennis Complex in Oeiras, Portugal.
After defeating Alexander Ritschard, Jurij Rodionov and Nikoloz Basilashvili, World No. 203 Blockx overcame 21-year-old Mark Lajal of Estonia in a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5 victory in one hour and 49 minutes on Saturday.
In a clash between aggressive players favoring indoor hard-court conditions, the player who minimized errors prevailed. Blockx returned more serves and frequently put his Estonian opponent under pressure, creating 17 break-point opportunities and converting five, a key to maintaining control throughout the match.
After a tight first set where Blockx clinched his sixth set point and led from the start, momentum shifted slightly in the second. Lajal adjusted by targeting Blockx’s backhand and capitalizing on shorter balls. However, even after serving to force a third set, Lajal faltered, allowing the 19-year-old to win the final three games. Blockx saved three crucial break points at 0-40 during this stretch and eventually closed the match on a double fault.
19-year-old Alexander Blockx beats qualifier Mark Lajal 7-5, 7-5 to reach his second @ATPChallenger final here at the Indoor Oeiras Open 3.
The future is bright for this kid! pic.twitter.com/jqHUGMYubL
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 25, 2025
Earlier, World No. 208 Draxl secured the first singles final spot by defeating fellow Canadian and close friend Alexis Galarneau in a three-set battle, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
A finalist in the first Indoor Oeiras Open, Draxl navigated a match featuring 12 service breaks to secure a second appearance in a championship match of the ATP Challenger series in Portugal. Despite moments of visible frustration, particularly late in the second set, Draxl proved steadier than Galarneau. The energy Galarneau expended in winning the second set ultimately affected his performance in the third, where an increase in errors allowed Draxl to claim victory without further resistance.
Liam Draxl wins the Canadian battle against his good friend Alexis Galarneau 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to reach a second @ATPChallenger final in three weeks here in Oeiras.
Will have another shot at his second Challenger title tomorrow against either Blockx or Lajal. pic.twitter.com/hJdCoJKWco
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 25, 2025
Regardless of Sunday’s final, both Blockx and Draxl have ensured their debut entries into the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings. Both players are vying for their second ATP Challenger Tour career title. Blockx triumphed at the Challenger 100 in Kobe, Japan, in November 2024, while Draxl won the Challenger 75 in Calgary, Canada, a year earlier.
Draxl/Harper triumph in doubles
For Draxl, Sunday’s singles final offers the chance to claim his second trophy of the week, having already won the doubles title with Cleeve Harper on Saturday.
The Canadian duo overcame a one-set-and-a-break deficit against favorites Matwe Middelkoop and Denys Molchanov. Draxl and Harper celebrated a 1-6, 7-5, 10-6 victory, earning their sixth team title.
