Blockx's Courageous US Open Debut Amidst Khachanov's Victory

Karen Khachanov is through to the US Open semi-finals, but the story of the night belonged just as much to the young man who couldn’t quite make it to the finish line.

Alexander Blockx, 21 years old and making his main-draw debut in New York, retired midway through the third set, his body finally rebelling after a fortnight of overachievement and overexertion. As the Belgian walked to the net to concede, commentator Nick Lester summed it up bluntly: “Blockx has nothing left.”

He didn’t go quietly. He refused to.

For most of the match, Blockx fought on with a patched-up body – blisters, a back that needed repeated treatment at the change of ends, and a rib issue he had reportedly brought into the contest. Between sets he took another medical timeout for more work on his back. Every pause felt like a negotiation between ambition and anatomy.

From the commentary box, there was no mistaking the admiration.

“He’s had some great wins, played some mesmerising tennis, especially against (Flavio) Cobolli,” Robbie Koenig said. “We are going to see a lot more of this young man in the years to come – fingers crossed that he can stay healthy for long periods of time. He's got such an exciting game, he's got such a great attitude out on the court and he's got a big time mentality."

Jelena Dokic went even further, reading the subtext in every grimace, every push off the baseline.

“We can see what a great competitor he is … I give him so much credit for (continuing) competing because he doesn't want to retire and he wants to stay out here on the court and finish the match,” she said on Nine. “But then if you've got this many injuries and depending on also what they are, especially the rib as well … you've got to think, 'can I do more damage here as well?'”

“He’s showing incredible competitive spirit. This also actually sends a big message to the locker room as well – everyone is always watching. He's going to stay out there, that he's a great competitor. He's just 21! To stay out here and keep playing is an incredible effort."

At 1-1 in the third set, with Khachanov having already banked the second and the momentum, the question stopped being whether Blockx could turn it around and became whether he should even try. His player box started to look more anxious than inspired. The calculus shifted from tactics to long-term survival.

Lester captured the mood as the match tilted decisively: "It's looking ominous for the Belgian on his US Open debut. It's been a memorable, but the clock is ticking."

Eventually, the clock ran out. Khachanov advanced, but Blockx walked off with something less tangible and just as valuable: the respect of a sport that had watched him refuse to fold until his body made the decision for him.

A Night That Went On and On

While Blockx’s run ended, the broader conversation in New York turned to something else entirely: time.

New USTA chief executive Craig Tiley has promised a hard look at scheduling after the tournament produced the latest-ever finish in US Open history. On Wednesday (AEST), the men’s quarterfinal between Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton did not start until after 11pm local time. Shelton’s winning ace landed at 3.33am.

Tiley, who stepped into the role after a long stint leading Tennis Australia and the Australian Open, pointed out that the chaos came from a perfect storm of long, gripping matches.

“If you look back at schedules, you don't get that ever. So that was particularly special,” he told Stan Sports. “The stadium was full. Everyone was loving it. We had people watching from all around the world. It was a great time for many people – not necessarily for everyone having to stay up here late and watch it – but it’s just one of those things.

“One thing we always do at the end of every event, we have a look and see what's worked best. Scheduling is also on that list. We'll always look at our options.”

The numbers explain why the night session slid so deep into the small hours.

In the day session, Aryna Sabalenka edged Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) in 2 hours 22 minutes. Then Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen went to the brink in a 4-hour 39-minute epic, Tiafoe clawing back from two sets down and from Michelsen serving for the match to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6).

By the time the night session finally began, it was already running close to two hours late. Jess Pegula then needed 2 hours 21 minutes to subdue Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Only then did Alcaraz and Shelton walk out for a match that turned into another marathon: 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in 4 hours 28 minutes.

The spectacle thrilled a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. The finish time horrified everyone tasked with planning the schedule. That tension – between theatre and practicality – now sits squarely on Tiley’s desk.

Gauff Channels Tiafoe’s Escape Act

Coco Gauff knows exactly what that Ashe crowd can do for a player on the brink. She leaned on it, and on a very specific source of inspiration, to escape her own tight corner against Mirra Andreeva.

Gauff dropped the first set and stared down match points in the second-set tiebreak, only to surge back and win in three. As she explained afterwards, she had Tiafoe’s Houdini act from the previous day lodged firmly in her mind.

“I came out not feeling the ball, giving her too many free points, and Mirra is playing at a great level,” she said in her on-court interview. “To be honest I was thinking about Frances Tiafoe and how he came back yesterday. We all want to do well in front of this crowd.

“I was just trying to leave this court with no regrets, I didn’t know how the outcome would go, but really, really thank you to you guys. You really pulled me through.”

The reward for that defiance is a semifinal showdown on Friday (AEST) with the sport’s newest standard-bearer.

A New No.1 at the Top of the Women’s Game

The WTA Tour wakes up to a new world No.1.

Elena Rybakina will officially take over the top spot on Monday, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s remarkable 99-week reign. Since Ash Barty’s sudden retirement in 2022, only Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have held the No.1 ranking. That duopoly is over.

Rybakina secured the summit by beating Qinwen Zheng in three sets this morning, locking in the change even with Sabalenka still alive in the draw.

“It’s just a number right now and of course I’m in the semis so my goal is to win the tournament,” Rybakina said. “It’s an amazing achievement but you know how quick everything can change in tennis, ranking-wise, during the match, so I feel like I just need to focus on my game, try to recover and enjoy tomorrow.”

A young Belgian leaves New York battered but emboldened. A new No.1 steps into the spotlight. A governing body wrestles with the clock. At this US Open, the bodies may be breaking, but the storylines are only just starting to stretch.