Three Belgian Men in ATP Top 40 for First Time in 19 Years

For the first time in 19 years, three Belgian male tennis players are simultaneously ranked in the ATP Top 40, marking a historic milestone for Belgian men’s tennis. Zizou Bergs (ATP 34), Raphaël Collignon (ATP 37), and Alexander Blockx (ATP 38) achieved the feat in the rankings published on July 21, 2026, reviving a level of national depth not seen since January 2007.

The last time three Belgian men occupied the ATP Top 40 was on January 22, 2007, when Xavier Malisse (ATP 30), Kristof Vliegen (ATP 37), and Olivier Rochus (ATP 39) held that distinction, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

A Breakthrough Week for Collignon

The surge was powered largely by Raphaël Collignon’s remarkable run to his first ATP final at the ATP 250 in Gstaad on July 19. The 24-year-old from Liège narrowly lost in three sets to former Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, but the performance propelled him five places up the rankings to a career-high ATP 37. Collignon’s rise pushed him past Alexander Blockx, who dropped one spot to 38 after an early exit in Umag. Zizou Bergs, who did not play the previous week, rose one place to a career-high ATP 34.

Mutual Competition Driving Success

The three players have credited their mutual rivalry and the Davis Cup experience for fueling their collective rise. Speaking earlier this year, Collignon told HLN: “It’s very good about our generation that we push each other to get better. Zizou and Alexander also inspire me. In terms of level, we’re not far apart. We realize we can beat the best players in the world and climb the ranking.”

Zizou Bergs, speaking on the VRT Canvas program De Afspraak in June, reflected on the remarkable turnaround. “Two years ago I started saying ‘Make Belgian tennis great again,’ but I didn’t expect we would have such calibers now,” Bergs said, as reported by Sporza. He added that the Davis Cup remains a central motivation: “What all three of us live for is the Davis Cup story. Knowing that we now have three such singles players gives beautiful perspectives.”

Historical Context

Belgium’s previous golden era for men’s tennis peaked in the mid-2000s. On May 8, 2006, Belgium had four players in the ATP Top 50 simultaneously — Christophe Rochus (ATP 42), Xavier Malisse (ATP 41), Kristof Vliegen (ATP 37), and Olivier Rochus (ATP 29). The current trio’s achievement marks the strongest collective showing since that period.

The all-time highest-ranked Belgian man remains David Goffin, who reached ATP 7 in November 2017 after qualifying for the ATP Finals, where he defeated both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. According to RTBF, the three current players now rank among the top 11 Belgian men in ATP history.

What Lies Ahead

The trio faces a crucial few months. The US Open in late August will see Alexander Blockx make his main draw debut, while Bergs and Collignon have third-round points to defend from 2025. In September, Belgium faces Austria in a Davis Cup qualifier in Vienna, with the winner advancing to the Final 8 in Bologna. Austria currently has no players in the ATP Top 100, making Belgium the clear favorite.

Bergs has expressed confidence that at least one of the three will reach the top 10. “The top 10 is very small. To have three Belgians there is very optimistic,” he told Sporza. “But I assume that one of us will definitely reach the top 10. Then others might briefly touch it too.”

A Broader Resurgence

The men’s breakthrough comes alongside promising developments in Belgian women’s tennis. Jeline Vandromme, 18, has climbed to WTA 128, while Hanne Vandewinkel, 22, reached a career-high WTA 92 after a runner-up finish at the WTA 125 event in Istanbul, as DH Net reported.

With three players in their prime or pre-prime years — Bergs at 27, Collignon at 24, and Blockx at 21 — Belgian men’s tennis appears poised for sustained success. The question now is whether this golden generation can convert ranking positions into deep Grand Slam runs and, perhaps, a Davis Cup title.