Madrid, 28 April (H.S.):

The Mutua Madrid Open 2026 delivered dramatic shifts on day seven, as reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina crashed out in the round of 16 while Germany’s Alexander Zverev marched into the last‑16 and Belgian teenager Alexander Blockx stunned world‑No. 5 Felix Auger‑Aliassime in straight sets.

The clay‑court Masters 1000 event, now deep in the fourth round, has begun to separate genuine contenders from the rest of the field.

World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, seeded second, met her match against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova, ranked 56th, in a tightly contested clash on the Manolo Santana Stadium. Potapova edged the opening set 7–6 (10–8) after both players traded two service breaks apiece, forcing a marathon tie‑break before seizing the momentum.

In the second set, Rybakina rebounded to grab an early lead, but Potapova hit back with breaks in the eighth and tenth games to seal a 7–6 (10–8), 6–4 victory. The win, celebrated as one of the most significant of her career, sends the 23‑year‑old into the quarterfinals and underlines the volatility of the women’s draw at this year’s Madrid Open.

On the men’s side, second‑seeded Alexander Zverev repelled a spirited challenge from Frenchman Terence Atman to progress to the next round with a 6–3, 7–6 (7–2) win. The 29‑year‑old German, chasing a second Madrid title, broke Atman twice in the first set to consolidate control, then weathered a tougher second set before closing it in the tie‑break.

The result continues Zverev’s steady march through the draw on home‑like territory, as he seeks to peak ahead of the French Open later this season. With fellow top‑10 seeds like Rafael Jódar and Tsitsipas also advancing, the path to the final shapes up as a mix of experience and emerging young stars.

The standout shock of the day came from Belgian youngster Alexander Blockx, 21, who toppled Canadian No. 3 seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime 7–6 (7–3), 6–3 without a hint of stage fright. The contest, lasting 1 hour 33 minutes, marked Blockx’s first victory over a top‑ten opponent and propelled him into the last‑16 for the second consecutive Masters 1000 event.

With a calm demeanor and consistent serving and movement, Blockx converted critical points in the opening‑set breaker and clinched the second set with a timely break, echoing the kind of breakthrough performances that have defined his rapid rise from No. 117 to No. 53 in recent months.

The eliminations of Rybakina and Auger‑Aliassime sharpen the battle ahead, leaving the Madrid draw wide open for both established champions and bold new contenders eager to stake a claim on the ATP and WTA clay‑court rankings.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar