His rise has been so rapid, there’s barely time to be surprised
Rafael Jódar booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday, defeating Czech player Vit Kopriva 7-5, 6-0 to stun a tournament that was already reeling from his breakthrough. At just 19 years of age, the Spanish #NextGenATP star has soaked up the pressure, responded with results and reacted with complete composure, as though his progress on clay were almost expected. Now, he faces a pivotal moment; a clash with Jannik Sinner and, for the first time, a chance to test himself against a world No. 1.
“I’m very happy with my level today and throughout this tournament”, said Jódar, who will be playing his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final. “It’s really special to play at home, in front of so many people I know who’ve come to support me. I’m delighted to have another match tomorrow. It’s a new opportunity. I’ll need to recover well and prepare for this match as best I can. It’s going to be a tough one”.
Before even thinking about his blockbuster clash, of course, there was hard work to be done. Jódar knew it would be an open match against Kopriva, a bold player with licence to let loose in the Spanish capital. The Spaniard endured a suffocating first set, where the Czech struck with the force of a man determined to defy the odds. However, with admirable patience, the Madrid native held firm until his time came, breaking to love in the final game of the set before seizing control of the match. In the second set, there was no contest, just the hunger of a youngster with his mind set on conquering the tour.
Now, it is all change for Jódar in the Caja Magica. In just a few weeks, he’s gone from a promising prospect to carrying expectations, feeling the crowd’s eager anticipation for his triumph on court. It’s a feeling only the very best experience, and the Spaniard is already dealing with it in his teens. After capturing his first ATP Tour title in Marrakech and reaching the semi-finals at the ATP 500 in Barcelona, Madrid’s clay is the next step on his journey.
On Sunday, Jódar had won one of the most emotional matches of his career, outlasting Brazilian Joao Fonseca in a thrilling encounter that finished well past midnight. That battle was a direct duel against one of the most talented players of his own generation. It was a first taste of what the future of tennis might look like. Now, the mission was to regain his composure and keep progressing through a tournament that is far from over. And the Madrid native accomplished his task.
In a tournament where he is very much under the microscope, Jódar is now right in the thick of it. The Spaniard will face Sinner in the quarter-finals, meeting a world No. 1 for the first time in his career. Matches against the best are a true test of progress and Jódar will have the chance in Madrid to measure himself against the elite. Shot by shot, he’ll learn what it takes to reach the top of the ATP Tour.
Jódar’s progress is now more than just an opinion. After Tuesday’s win, the Spaniard is virtually ranked No. 18 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. In the heart of the clay season, with more than five months of competition under his belt, the Madrid native is one of the sensations of the year but also among the most consistent players of the season.
Did you know…? Rafael Jódar has become the fourth wildcard to reach the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open, following in the footsteps of Feliciano López (2007), Ivan Ljubicic (2009) and Pablo Andújar (2013).
