Daniil Medvedev Shares Doubts Over Rafael Jodar’s Astonishing Rise this Season

Daniil Medvedev has questioned the praise for 19-year-old Rafael Jodar following his rise this clay season. The Spaniard has become one of the sport’s brightest young talents after winning his first tour-level title and reaching the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open. Jodar has sealed his place in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.

This year is Jodar’s first season on tour. He began the year ranked World No.168 but has climbed up the ATP rankings, and he’s now on the verge of a top 30 breakthrough after an incredible run of form. Since reaching the third round of the Miami Open as a qualifier, Jodar has suffered just two losses on tour.

He won his first ATP title at the Marrakech Open, becoming the second player born in 2006 after Joao Fonseca to win a tour-level title. He was handed a wildcard at the Barcelona Open and reached the semi-finals before eventual champion Arthur Fils produced a comeback to beat the 19-year-old.

At the Madrid Open, Jodar defeated Fonseca in the third round, just two days after earning his first top 10 win following his victory against Alex de Minaur. Jannik Sinner has praised the youngster, and Stefanos Tsitsipas has linked his style of play to seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Already, the Spanish media is buzzing about the young talent and how far he can go at the Madrid Open and also the other clay tournaments, including the French Open. But when Medvedev was asked about Jodar’s sensational talent, he revealed that the major test of every player is in the Grand Slam tournament:

But from where he’s coming from like 900 last year and to go into the top 40 – it’s very rare that people do it. So I think huge talent. Then it always becomes a question of whether you become someone who is in every Grand Slam final – which we know some guys are now or have been before – or if you’re just a very good player. And this is something you never really know. But right now he’s playing unbelievable tennis and he’s fun to watch.

Jodar has been dubbed to follow in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal and Alcaraz on tour. A few weeks ago, fellow Spanish player Daniel Merida revealed that comparisons have put a lot of pressure on youngsters on tour. Perhaps that’s what Medvedev is trying to point out when he said that one or two tournaments aren’t enough to prove a player’s strength.

Daniil Medvedev exits the Madrid Open after a loss to Flavio Cobolli

Daniil Medvedev has crashed out of the Madrid Open. The Russian star, who suffered a double bagel loss in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters against Matteo Berrettini, regained his composure in Madrid, winning two matches before Flavio Cobolli ended his run in the round of 16.

The 30-year-old put up a fight against Cobolli despite losing the first set. He won the second set but couldn’t maintain the momentum in the third. The Italian star defeated Medvedev 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals. Medvedev revealed during his post-match press conference that he’s satisfied with his level of display:

It was an incredible match and the loss hurts a lot. It all came down to a few points. He was phenomenal. As for me, I’m satisfied with my level. I’m taking positives from this week and already thinking about Rome and Paris, because I feel like I’m adapting well to clay and progressing better than in previous years.

Medvedev will now have to turn his focus to the Italian Open, which he won in 2023. The former US Open champion is known as a hard-court master, but his relationship with the clay court has been one of worry in the last couple of months. He will have to improve in his game ahead of the French Open.

Also Read: Mirra Andreeva Reveals High Heels Wish for Her 19th Birthday After Reaching Madrid Semifinals

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