Alexander Blockx outlasted Román Andrés Burruchaga 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a topsy-turvy first-round clash at the Estoril Open. The Belgian decisively won the key moments, converting five of eight break points while his opponent managed four of ten.
Blockx raced to a 3-0 lead in the opener by breaking in the first and third games, only for Burruchaga to claw one break back at 2-4. The second set saw a trade of breaks at 3-4 and 4-4 before Burruchaga broke again in the 12th game to force a decider. In the third, Blockx broke immediately at 0-1, was pegged back at 1-1, then broke once more at 3-4 and served out the match.
Blockx finished with six aces, double Burruchaga's total, and won 67% of points behind his first serve. The Argentine saved only two of five break points he faced in the final set, while the Belgian saved two of three.