Rafael Jodar on first Top 10 victory: ‘It’s the top opponents who help you improve’ | ATP Tour

Match Response

Jodar on first High 10 victory: ‘It’s the highest opponents who assist you enhance’

Spaniard upset World No. 8 De Minaur on Friday in Madrid

April 24, 2026

The eye surrounding Rafael Jodar is rising by the day on the Mutua Madrid Open.

On Friday, the #NextGenATP Spaniard claimed the primary High 10 win of his profession on Manolo Santana Stadium, dwelling as much as the excitement surrounding him on the ATP Tour. In his house metropolis, the Madrid native eased previous World No. 8 Alex de Minaur, conceding simply 4 video games and unleashing an attacking model of tennis that guarantees to launch him into the game’s elite.

The Spaniard has virtually change into a family title in Madrid over the previous few months. Together with his newest triumph on the Caja Magica, Jodar rose to No. 20 within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin, a testomony to the spell of kind he’s presently having fun with.

“The whole lot is occurring very quick, I’m taking part in a lot of tournaments and matches,” the Madrid-born participant calmly acknowledged. “That’s permitting me to compete in opposition to many high-level gamers and enhance my tennis. Once you face these opponents, who’re the perfect on Tour, that’s while you actually elevate your degree.

“At present, my goal was to take pleasure in myself since you don’t play in opposition to an opponent like Alex day-after-day. In entrance of all of the individuals who got here to assist me, I attempted to savour the second.”

The Spaniard appeared unfazed by the magnitude of the stage he discovered himself on, imposing his recreation from the outset. Dealing with one of the vital bodily gamers on the ATP Tour, able to tirelessly patrolling the baseline, the Madrid participant landed numerous winners and had the followers in raptures along with his aggressive recreation.

“I knew I needed to take pleasure in myself, if I had a shot, I needed to go for it,” he added. “I knew issues would get powerful, as a result of the rating doesn’t replicate how arduous the match was. Within the second set, he clawed his manner again, however there have been key factors that I managed to swing my manner. That’s what determined the match.”

The Spaniard’s composure was maybe the results of the progress he has already made on the Caja Magica. Whereas in his first match, he needed to battle to stage a comeback, on Friday, all he wanted was 75 minutes to take down De Minaur. To Jodar, although, his progress is pure and to be anticipated.

“The primary match helped me lots to adapt to the situations in Madrid,” he defined. “I got here from one thing very totally different in Barcelona. It did me good to get used to the Manolo Santana courtroom. That doesn’t imply the subsequent one might be any much less powerful; it’ll be very difficult. Tomorrow I’ll attempt to have a great apply day and method Sunday’s match with the identical mindset.”

In two days, Jodar could have a possibility to change into the main power of a brand new era of gamers. The Madrid native will tackle Brazil’s Joao Fonseca for the primary time, in a conflict between the 2 main gamers within the PIF ATP Reside Subsequent Gen Race.

“Joao is a tricky opponent, and I’ve to arrange nicely for this match,” Jodar shared. “I’ve to play my very own recreation and be prepared in case issues don’t go in addition to immediately. I’ve to attempt to keep robust in these moments. We’ll see the way it goes.”

In Madrid, the place followers are craving for a brand new hero, Jodar responds with actions, not phrases. At simply 19 years of age, the Spaniard is already outfitted to problem the strongest on the earth.