Mirra Andreeva makes Madrid Open final but defending champion Casper Ruud suffers ‘depressing’ exit

The Belgian had never won an ATP Tour match on clay before reaching the third round at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month and continued his rapid rise on the surface with a composed display against the 12th seed.

Alexander Blockx continued an excellent start to his clay season with a win over Casper Ruud (Getty)

The 21-year-old said: “To be honest, I’m just happy with being here. Even winning my first match here. I barely escaped in the first round, and I was happy about that already. Semi-finals is something I wouldn’t have even dreamed of to begin with.”

Ruud, who will drop out of the top 20 for the first time in nearly five years as a result, said the defeat was “depressing”.

The Norwegian said: “I found it depressing this game, because he didn't really have any weaknesses. I was impressed because I didn't really find any big weakness or hole in his game. And when you don't do that, it's easier to kind of over-hit and feel like you don't get anything out of your own shots. So credit to him for being, obviously, a very good server, yes, but also very solid and playing well from the baseline.”

Casper Ruud will now drop out of the top 20 (Getty)

World No 69 Blockx also beat third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo in his march to the semi-finals, where he will be the underdog once more against either second seed Alexander Zverev or 10th seed Flavio Cobolli, with the winner of Jannik Sinner vs Arthur Fils awaiting in the final.

While there are no Spanish players left in either draw the home crowd had something to cheer as Carlos Alcaraz - sidelined with a wrist injury which has ruled him out of the French Open - watched his 14-year-old brother Jaime play in the under-16 tournament, with the younger Alcaraz winning 6-3 6-3 over compatriot Pol Mas.