Trip to Jeddah: Rafael Nadal’s impact on Landaluce and the coaching relationship behind Blockx’s rise | ATP Tour
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Trip to Jeddah: The impetus behind the rise of Blockx and Nadal’s influence on Landaluce
Watch the second episode of the new Journey to Jeddah series starring Landaluce and Blockx
December 7, 2025
Martin Landaluce is cautious, thoughtful and quiet, with the aura of a young player that is influenced not only by talent but by the powerful influences around him. The 19-year-old grew up in Madrid and moved to Mallorca as a teenager, settling in at the prestigious Rafael Nadal academy, which is the setting for the second episode of the new Journey to Jeddah series. It was here, on these pristine pitches, that much of his growth took place.
Landalus, a former U.S. Open men’s singles champion and now a two-time ATP Challenger Champion, attributes part of his progress to a unique apprenticeship that few players his age have: training with Rafael Nadal himself.
“On the first pitch, I and [Nadal] Several times,” Landalus said, looking at the Mallorca courtroom. “He destroyed me. He hits the ball really hard when he’s practicing, really hard. But I had a great time. “
Mentoring doesn’t end at baseline. His conversations with Toni Nadal, Rafa’s uncle and longtime coach, often went far beyond forehands and footwork.
“We talk about things that normally no one asks you,” Landalus said. “But he has no filter, so if he wants to ask you, he’s going to do it, and I like that about him and I admire him. It’s good to do that kind of reflection.”
Family also played a decisive role in Landalus’ journey. His father, Alejandro, still competes on the ITF Seniors Tour, and his siblings share the same competitive passion. Their unity was once recorded in an almost unbelievable story.
“There’s a funny story, my dad, sister, brother and myself, we won the same competition in different categories in the same week,” he recalled. “I think that’s very, very difficult and rare in the history of tennis.”
If Landalus’ path was shaped by family and mentorship, Alexander Brox’s story begins with sibling rivalry and the moment a young boy realizes he wants to play and not just watch from the sidelines.
“I always sit on the bench and always watch what my brother is doing,” said the 20-year-old Belgian. “I love competing because I’m always trying to do better than him. My coach asked me if I wanted to try it and I was a little shy at first, and then eventually I started hitting the ball and it felt good and I had it right away.”
That early spark has evolved into a dynamic, forward-thinking style that has helped Blockx win two ATP Challenger Tour titles this season and earn a spot at the 2025 Next Generation ATP Finals hosted by PIF.
“I’m pretty fast for my size,” said Blockx, ranked 116th in the world. “My forehand is really good offensively. My serve has gotten a lot better and my backhand I can attack with now. I think the key is to be as aggressive as possible otherwise you have no chance of beating the best players.”
At the heart of Blockx’s rise is one of the most enduring partnerships in the sport. Philippe Casils has been his coach since he was a child and has guided him for 16 years, which is rare in modern football.
“We’ve known each other for 16 years. It’s rare to have such a long-lasting relationship in sports and society in general,” Bullocks said. “It’s become more like a family.”
Cassils agreed: “It’s been a long-term, trusted relationship. We don’t need a lot of words or signs to know where we’re going. We’re enjoying the process.”
Watch Episode 2 of Journey to Jeddah now to follow Landaluce and Blockx as they compete for the title at the 2025 Next Generation ATP Finals hosted by PIF, taking place in Jeddah from December 17-21.
