US EditionA new 'Rafa' rises in Spain as Rafael Jódar storms into top 50 before Madrid Open debut
Jódar’s rise includes a Barcelona semifinal and his first tour-level title in Morocco, with Alcaraz praising him as an outstanding player.
- On Wednesday, 19-year-old Rafael Jódar enters the top 50 rankings for the first time, making his Madrid Open debut against 109th-ranked Jesper de Jong.
- Jódar's rapid ascent follows his rise from outside the top 600 a year ago. Earlier this month, the Spaniard won his first tour-level trophy in Morocco.
- Carlos Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, called Jódar "an outstanding player" who "broken into the tour really quickly." Jódar attributes his success to remaining a "calm person both on and off the court."
- With Alcaraz withdrawing due to a wrist injury, fans in the Spanish capital are turning attention to Jódar and fellow rising star Martin Landaluce as crowd favorites.
- Jódar plans to "take it tournament by tournament" as he gains experience on the ATP Tour. The 19-year-old does not set specific future ranking targets.
17 Articles
17 Articles
A new ''Rafa'' rises in Spain as Rafael Jódar storms into top 50 before Madrid Open debut
And one of them has the same first name of all-time great Rafael Nadal — 19-year-old Rafael Jódar, who has been making headlines in Spain and across the tennis world thanks to a rapid rise through the rankings.
Expectations are high for Rafael Jódar at the Madrid Open, but he has his feet on the ground
Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Madrid Open due to injury, and may even miss Roland Garros next month, but Spanish fans will have plenty of local talent to cheer this week and the next at the Caja Mágica: Roberto Bautista (in his farewell season), Jaume Munar, Martín Landaluce, Pablo Carreño, Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina (seeded for the second round)... but perhaps none as exciting for the fans as Rafael Jódar. The 19-year-old, who in his maiden se…
How Carlos Alcaraz Ascended His Way To The Top
When the golden era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal finally wound down, men’s tennis faced a daunting void. Pundits and supporters alike questioned who could possibly follow such monumental acts. Enter Carlos Alcaraz. Bursting onto the ATP Tour with a rare blend of explosive baseline power and delicate touch, the youngster from Murcia quickly put those anxieties to rest. Alongside his fierce rival Jannik Sinner, he has grabbed the sport by the…
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