By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, Could 6, 2026
Photograph credit score: Mutua Madrid Open Fb
Toni Nadal has seen tennis’ future. His title is Rafael Jodar.
Writing in his column for Spanish publication El País, Toni Nadal, uncle and unique coach of Rafael Nadal, says Jodar is already the most effective of his era. Toni Nadal says the 19-year-old man from Madrid shall be among the finest on the earth in a number of years—or probably within the coming months.
“Jódar has change into, in my view, the most effective participant of this new era and the one with the best potential,” Toni Nadal wrote in El País. “I feel that, in a number of years and, virtually definitely I shall be flawed and it is going to be a number of months, Rafa will change into among the finest tennis gamers on the earth, a agency candidate to complicate the lives of the most effective gamers of the second and to battle to elevate crucial tournaments.”
Wild card Jodar thrilled house followers along with his impressed run to the Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinals the place he misplaced to No. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-2, 7-6(0).
Regardless of this defeat, Jodar solidified his standing as a harmful risk for upcoming clay-court tournaments at Rome and Roland Garros. The lanky Jodar can detonate his forehand to harmful impact, can play fearless down the road drives and figures to solely get stronger and sharper shifting ahead.
The Marrakech champion started 2025 ranked No. 896, cracked the Prime 200 final November, earlier than breaking into the Prime 100 in March. This week, Jodar climbs to a career-high No. 34 within the ATP Stay Rankings.
Toni Nadal says Jodar, like No. 1 Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alacaraz, has ending energy on each wings. The world’s high two are higher defenders and popping out of the corners. Toni Nadal says Jodar should enhance his protection and talent to increase factors. Nonetheless, Uncle Toni is satisfied Jodar has the weapons, self-discipline and drive to problem the world’s greatest gamers in Grand Slam occasions.
“Like Alcaraz and Sinner, Jódar is tremendously expeditious and daring when he desires to complete [points],” Toni Nadal wrote for El País. “However, quite the opposite, he’s nonetheless considerably weak in relation to defending them. This would be the aspect of his sport that should enhance probably the most within the coming months.
“Nonetheless, after having seen his evolution match after match, in a really brief time and in a tireless rise, nothing leads me to assume that he can not do it.”
