Rafael Jodar Refuses to Add Himself to the Level of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Rafael Jodar‘s run at the Madrid Open came to an end after he fell to a straight-set loss to Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals. The Spaniard has been dubbed to follow in the footsteps of his fellow compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and perhaps reach the level of Sinner. But the 19-year-old has admitted that he remains grounded despite the praises.

Jodar made headlines during the Madrid Open, taking a special place in the heart of Spanish fans following Alcaraz’s withdrawal. The 19-year-old, who at this time last year was playing college tennis for the University of Virginia, is set to break into the top 35 of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career.

He was ranked World No.687 this time last year. Jodar had accepted a university scholarship the same year that Joao Fonseca decided to focus on becoming a professional rather than playing college tennis. The Spaniard began to play in the Challengers in the middle of last year and took the bold step of becoming a professional this season.

After much struggle, he finally found his rhythm at the Miami Open, where he reached the third round as a qualifier. He took the tour by storm this season, winning a maiden ATP title in Marrakech and making the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open before facing World No.1 Sinner in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.

Jodar was no match for Sinner on the court. Although he showed grit and aggressiveness in the second set, Sinner crushed him in the tiebreak to win 6-2, 8-6(0) and reach the semi-finals of the Madrid Open. After the loss, Jodar was told about the praises that Sinner showered on him, but the teenager admitted his only focused on improving:

I agree with what he said. It’s my first year on the tour. There are still many tournaments this season and many seasons ahead. I just need to keep improving and take this as a learning experience. Everyone on this tour plays very well. Just because I’ve had these results doesn’t mean I’m better than I really am. It’s important to stay grounded and understand that anyone can beat you.

Sinner is the favorite to win the Madrid Open following his superb run at the event. This is the first time he’s in the semi-finals in the Spanish capital and will take on Arthur Fils for a place in the final. The Italian is currently on a 21-match winning streak, which began at the Indian Wells Open in March.

Rafael Jodar full of confidence after the Madrid Open experience

Rafael Jodar has been a big revelation on clay this season. Despite his young age, he has carried an unusual kind of confidence to the court every match. He could have reached the final of the Barcelona Open if not for some mistakes in the second set. He had won the first set against Arthur Fils before spraying unforced errors, which led to his defeat.

The Madrid Open run now gives him the needed momentum ahead of the Italian Open in Rome and then the French Open. During the aforementioned press conference, Jodar admitted that the Madrid Open gives him a good experience on tour and carries extra significance for his talent heading into future events:

I’ve played four matches against very different and very tough opponents. It’s been a great opportunity to learn. I hope I can keep playing at this level in the upcoming tournaments. I’ve played a lot of matches here in Madrid and also last week in Barcelona. Now it’s about resting, recovering, and preparing for the next tournament.

The biggest test for Jodar will be at the French Open. Daniil Medvedev recently suggested that youngsters these days fail to make an impact in Grand Slam tournaments, while questioning Jodar’s rise. With Carlos Alcaraz not playing at Roland Garros, there will be much media publicity about him, which may attract undue pressure.

Also Read: Andy Roddick Admits There Are Concerns That Carlos Alcaraz Will Miss Wimbledon

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