Pablo Carreno Busta Complains About Rafael Jodar’s Friends After Wimbledon Exit: “They Were Quite Annoying”

The second-round Wimbledon match between Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Jodar was suspended on Wednesday due to bad light and completed on Thursday (July 2). Jodar secured a spot in the third round after a tough 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win against his compatriot.

The match was suspended when Busta was leading two sets to one. When it resumed, the 19-year-old bounced back to level the scores before securing the win in three hours, 43 minutes. The win helped Jodar improve her head-to-head record over Busta to 2-0.

Before the fourth set, Jodar requested to use the bathroom, due to which he was criticized by some on social media, as they accused him of deliberately trying to prolong the end of the match to get it suspended amid physical discomfort. But the 34-year-old had no issue with Jodar and instead called out his friends and the chair umpire.

I had no issue with Rafa. It didn’t bother me that he went to the bathroom. If he asks and they allow it, he can go. The only thing is that, in my career, I requested to use the restroom after sitting for 30 seconds, and I wasn’t allowed. They permitted him towards the end of the break. The chair umpire had scolded me for making him wait a bit during the serve when there were 13 seconds left. If rules apply to one, they should apply to the other.

Pablo Carreno Busta said at the press conference

Prior to Wimbledon, they met in the fourth round of this year’s French Open, where Jodar overcame a two-set deficit to win the match in five sets.

They [Jodar’s friends] have been quite annoying throughout the whole match. Also, the convention of having both benches in opposite corners needs to change. They should put both benches on the same side.

Pablo Carreno Busta added

The 23rd seed will next be facing Shintaro Mochizuki in the third round. Prior to eliminating Busta, Jodar knocked out Felix Gill in the first round.

Rafael Jodar on the difficulties of transitioning from clay to grass

Rafael Jodar also experienced how difficult it is to transition from clay to grass in a short time. Before arriving at Wimbledon, Jodar was scheduled to play the Queen’s Club Championships, but he withdrew from it due to an abdominal injury.

It’s difficult because you don’t have much time to reset your mind and adapt to the new surface. It’s true; it’s my first time playing on grass. It wasn’t like that when I started playing on clay this season because I had already played a lot on clay when I was younger. So yes, I just try to adapt.

Rafael Jodar said at the press conference

On the clay swing this year, Jodar lifted his career’s first clay-court title at the Grand Prix Hassan II and made the semifinals of the Barcelona Open, quarterfinals of the Madrid Open, and the Italian Open. Then, on his maiden French Open, Jodar reached the quarterfinals and lost in straight sets to eventual champion Alexander Zverev.

Jodar has become the third Spaniard under the age of 20 to progress to the third round of Wimbledon in the Open Era after Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. He could meet defending champion Jannik Sinner if they both reach the fourth round.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, who defeated Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final last year, will meet Jenson Brooksby in the third round. Sinner, who holds a 1-0 head-to-head record over Jodar, survived a scare in the first round against Miomir Kecmanovic as he won the match in five sets.

Also read: Iga Swiatek Explains How Changing Wimbledon Grass Courts Level the Playing Field for Heavy Topspin