Our 17-year-old fellow countryman Alexander Blockx has secured the grand slam title among the juniors at the Australian Open on Saturday morning Belgian time.
Jens Heylen
Blockx beat his American peer Learner Tien in three sets: 6-1, 2-6 and 7-6 (11/9). Blockx was the very first Belgian finalist at the Australian Open for the boys. In the girls’ category, An-Sophie Mestach (she won in 2011) and Sofia Costoulas preceded him.
Blockx, the third seed in Melbourne, got off to a flying start by breaking his peer across the street three times. Ten would do that twice in the second set. As a result, the Antwerp resident only lost a set for the second time in his sixth singles match. In his five previous matches, he lost only one.
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In the all-determining third set, it went right up in the mythical Rod Laver Arena. Both youngsters kept their service, so a super tiebreak had to be decisive. Blockx and Tien also did not give each other an inch, but the Belgian eventually won 11-9! After Friday’s lost double final, the Antwerp resident takes revenge on his American opponent.
After Jacky Brichant in 1947 and Kimmer Coppejans in 2012 (both Roland Garros triumphants), Blockx is the third Belgian youngster to win a grand slam.
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