#NextGenATP Blockx banks Belgian history with Challenger title

Alexander Blockx hammered an ace before lifting his arms in the air while cracking a large smile.
The 19-year-old had just clinched his second ATP Challenger Tour title at the Oeiras Open 3 on Sunday, becoming the youngest Belgian to earn multiple trophies at that level.
Blockx won his first Challenger title in November in Kobe, Japan and in the first month of 2025, the #NextGenATP teenager has returned to the winner’s circle. Blockx downed Canadian qualifier Liam Draxl 7-5, 6-1 in the final and jumped 57 places to a career-high No. 146 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Alexander Blockx is crowned champion at the ATP Challenger 100 event in Oeiras, Portugal. Credit: Beatriz Ruivo/FPT
Nearly two years ago to the day, Blockx was lifting the Australian Open boys’ singles title after defeating American Learner Tien in a thrilling final. Tien, last year’s finalist at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, is fresh off a fourth-round run in Melbourne. The lefty made his Top 100 debut in Monday’s PIF ATP Rankings.
Could the former junior No. 1 Blockx be among the 20-and-under players to qualify for this year’s event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia?
“The Next Gen ATP Finals would be really nice to play at,” Blockx said in his post-match press conference Sunday. “I saw last year some of my colleagues, players my age [competing] and I am really motivated to go there as well. The format is a bit different, but I think it’s nice to compare yourself to the group of players your age.”
Following his triumph in Portugal, Blockx is sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. Tien leads the group while last year's champion Joao Fonseca is second.
In other Challenger action, Frenchman Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg completed a dream week on home soil in Quimper, where he lifted his maiden title at that level. The 21-year-old advanced through qualifying and ended the week with the trophy in his hands following a 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-2 final victory against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
“Right now, I'm on cloud nine. It's just incredible,” Gueymard Wayenburg said in French. “I've had a crazy week… When I hit that last forehand, everything let go, all the pressure was released.”
Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg celebrates winning the Quimper Challenger. Credit: Nicolas Averty
Gueymard Wayenburg needed a deciding set in four of his five main-draw matches. Following his triumph, the Aix-en-Provence native propelled 217 places to a career-high No. 253 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
At the Punta del Este Open in Uruguay, Daniel Elahi Galan claimed his fifth Challenger title and first since April 2022. The 28-year-old Colombian rallied past Tomas Barrios Vera 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
Champion in Punta del Este 🏆
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) January 27, 2025
Daniel Galan wins his 5th career Challenger title!#ATPChallenger | @fedecoltenis pic.twitter.com/aSRDgqFHDQ