Stefanos Tsitsipas Calls Rafael Jodar a Combination of Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev: “He’ll Achieve Great Results”
Jannik Sinner could face Rafael Jodar if they both reach the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open.
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L-R: Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Jodar (circle), Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via The Canberra Times, People.com, Roland Garros, Sky Sports)
- Rafael Jodar has made significant strides in his tennis career, winning his first tour-level title at the Grand Prix Hassan II.
- Stefanos Tsitsipas describes Jodar as a hybrid player, combining traits of Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.
- Jannik Sinner aims to become the first man to win the first four Masters 1000 events of the season.
Rafael Jodar is doing nothing but impressing the tennis community with his performances in recent months. After winning three Challenger finals last year and losing one this year, Jodar qualified for the main draw of a Grand Slam event for the first time at this year’s Australian Open.
He suffered a second-round exit (lost to Jakub Mensik). Later, he made his Masters 1000 main draw debut at Indian Wells, and after qualifying for the Miami Open main draw, he reached the third round.
After his exit, he competed at the Grand Prix Hassan II, an ATP 250 event in Morocco, only to end the event in his favor by defeating Marco Trungelliti, winning his career’s first tour-level title. The 19-year-old also made the semifinals of the Barcelona Open and lost the match in three sets to eventual champion Arthur Fils.
Then in Madrid, the Spaniard registered the biggest win of his career when he knocked out World No.8 Alex de Minaur in the second round before overcoming Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca in the third round. World No.1 Jannik Sinner thinks Jodar is a player to look out for in the future, while Stefanos Tsitsipas believes the teenager is a combination of Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.
He has a style different from Alcaraz’s. He seems to me like a hybrid player between Carlos and Zverev… If he keeps the attitude and doesn’t lose his head, he’ll achieve great results.
Stefanos Tsitsipas told reporters
Tsitsipas, who is hoping to end his title drought, has a tough match ahead of him as he will be playing against defending champion Casper Ruud in the fourth round. The Norwegian ace holds a 3-2 edge over the Greek ace.
Jannik Sinner could face Rafael Jodar in the quarterfinals
Because Jannik Sinner has been playing non-stop tennis, there was uncertainty over his Madrid Open participation. He himself had said that to prioritize rest and recovery, he could end up skipping the fourth Masters 1000 of the season.
During an interview with Tennis Channel, the four-time Grand Slam champion revealed why he chose to play the tournament, where he has never made it past the quarterfinals.
When I won, or when I finished there in Monaco, I said, you know, in three, four days we decide if we play or if we don’t play. I woke up quite good body-wise. I was like, why not? So we go here, we try how my body feels. Even though the body is the most important, and I will always protect it, also for future events, and also for future years.
If Sinner reaches his second quarterfinal in Madrid, the tennis world could see him lock horns with Rafael Jodar. But before that, Sinner will have to defeat Cameron Norrie in the fourth round. Jodar’s fourth-round opponent is Vit Kopriva.
I made choices last year. I made choices a couple of years ago by not playing certain events. When I feel like that’s the right thing to do, I’m always going to do it. And also, in the middle of tournaments, you know? When I feel like it’s getting too much for the body, I’m not scared to say no. But at the moment, I feel quite good.
Jannik Sinner added
Sinner is bidding to become the first man in history to win the first four Masters 1000 of the season. He has already become the second man, after Novak Djokovic, to win the first three events of the season at this level.
After defeating Daniil Medvedev and Jiri Lehecka in the Indian Wells and the Miami Open finals, Sinner upset defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte-Carlo Masters final, winning his first title in The Principality and his second overall clay-court title.
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