Blockx beats 'unbelievable' Learner to claim AO boys' crown
The Australian Open Junior girls' final, which preceded the boys' encounter, was so long that at one point Alexander Blockx and Learner Tien were told that if that contest didn’t finish shortly, their final would be switched away from Rod Laver Arena.
“I warmed up three times and ate twice,” said 2023 boys' champion Blockx, who overcame the American Tien on his third match point of an absolutely scintillating tie-break to take the junior boys title 6-1 2-6 7-6(9) in just over two hours.
It felt like he had to win each point three or four times, he said, such was the resilience and class of Tien, a close pal who beat him in the doubles final on Friday. Blockx's groundstrokes seemingly lifted him from the floor at times such was the force and intent and occasional desperation.
Had he ever hit any harder?
“Against Learner you have to because otherwise you saw what happened in the second set,” said Blockx.
“I couldn't do anything because he's an unbelievable player. He has one of the best touches I've ever seen from a tennis player.
“He controls the ball so well. If you don't put pressure on him, then stuff will happen like in the second set, he will just blow you away. That's why I had to come back in the third set with just hitting as hard as I can. Okay, I can make mistakes sometimes, but I won at the end. That's the most important.”
The 2023 Australian Open Junior Championships may well be the final ever junior tournament for the Belgian, who turns 18 in April. The M15 and M25 professional tournaments on the ITF World Tennis Tour are calling now, he said, and indeed he has eyes on a pro career as soon as practical. And through whatever means.
“I heard the winner of the AO Juniors gets a wildcard into the main AO qualifying draw next year,” he said.
He will be back without question and has thoroughly enjoyed his time in Melbourne. But sightseeing will have to wait - a couple of hours after he was presented with the boys' singles trophy (he had not yet had time to scroll through the previous winners engraved on the pot, Nick Kyrgios and Sebastian Korda to the fore) - Blockx was set to catch a plane to Korea for a week where he will gain valuable experience with the Belgium Davis Cup team.
After that it’s home and then maybe a men's World Tennis Tour event in Germany. Very organised and hugely impressive, but he retains the ability of a teenager to slip up, as expected, from time to time.
Have you had any texts or message from home yet he is asked 40 minutes after coming off court?
“No,” he says, “My phone has died. I’ll have to check later.”