Jodar Marches Confidently Into Paris Masters Second Round

Rafael Jodar
Rafael Jodar (photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour)

PARIS/WASHINGTON, November 2, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

As Rafael Jodar walked out on Court Central at the Rolex Paris Masters to play his first match as a Top 10 player Monday afternoon, after becoming the fourth player to make his Top 10 debut on the ATP Tour this season, the 20-year-old Spaniard exuded a sense of confidence that’s not often seen in younger players.

In what has been a breakout first year for the Madrid native, it’s taken Jodar just 287 days to go from his ATP Tour debut on January 20, 2026 to reaching the Top 10 on November 2, 2026 – the shortest time of any player to do so. Jodar shattered the previous record of 490 days set by Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, who needed from April 1, 1996 to August 4, 1997. He’s done it by remaining focused and calm.

Jodar came into his first-round encounter with Alejandro Tabilo of Chile 6-1 in opening rounds of ATP Masters 1000 events this season and was 8-0 versus left-handers since losing to Tabilo in the first round at Indian Wells in March. 

This time, Jodar needed just 86 minutes to beat Tabilo, 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the second round against World No. 23 Casper Ruud of Norway.

Certainly, Jodar has a lot to play for this week in Paris. He’s No. 9 on the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, seeking his Nitto ATP Finals debut, and he’s also No. 1 on the PIF ATP Live Next Gen Race.

Against Tabilo, he won 71 percent (32 of 45) of his first-serve points, struck 34 winners – 10 of them service aces – and converted five of 12 break points against the 30th-ranked Chilean. He outpointed his opponent, 73-50.

“[I had] the same mindset and mentality I have had this first year,” Jodar said during his on-court interview with ATP Media, after improving his win-loss record to 45-18. “I tried to play my game, but every match is different and especially when you don’t know the tournament, because it’s my first year here in Paris. I’m enjoying it and am super happy to get the first win.”

Jodar’s next opponent, Ruud, defeated 54th-ranked Argentine qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 6-3, 6-2, in one hour on Court Central for his 33rd win of the season. They will square off in a featured match on Court Central Tuesday evening.

Monday’s victory leveled Ruud’s head-to-head against the younger brother of Francisco Cerundolo at 2-all and it broke a four-match losing streak for the Norwegian No. 1 at this event. Ruud proved to 17-8 at ATP Masters 1000 level this year, including a run to the Rome final and quarterfinal finishes in Madrid and Shanghai.

Ruud won 83 percent (25 of 30) of his first-serve points, hit 27 winners, faced no break points and converted three of five break-point chances. He outpointed the younger Cerundolo 58-35.

“It was a good win from start to finish; just the start I was looking for,” Ruud said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “I broke him in his first service game and got off to an early lead. From there, I was able to build my game.

“The second set was kind of the same story. I got a great lead early on. When you’re 4-0 and one set up … usually you’re able to serve it out. My serve was working well and I was playing well behind it.”

Musetti garners fourth-straight Top 30 win; Zverev next

In what turned into a nervy opener on Court Central, 24th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti of Italy earned his first Paris win since advancing to the 2022 quarterfinals with his 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10) victory over No. 29 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. 

After losing three-straight first-round matches at the Paris Masters, the recent Lyon champion Musetti rebounded with his fourth-consecutive Top 30 win. He put away Monday’s one-hour, 43-minute opener on his fourth match-point opportunity. Musetti won 80 percent (51 of 64) of his first-serve points, finished with 15 winners, saved the only break point he faced, and withstood 31 winners from Hurkacz. Points were even at 76-all.

“It was kind of tricky to break each other,” Musetti said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “We both served really well today. I knew I had to hold my serve and not offer him too much. I knew I had to be focused at the end in the tie-break. At 6-5, I didn’t serve well. I was shaking a bit on the match point. It can happen. The attitude was right to play each point. I saved set points. I was happy about that. Fortunately, my confidence is back.”

Next, Musetti will face newly-crowned World No. 1 Alexander Zverev of Germany in the second round on Wednesday.

Around the Rolex Paris Masters

• There was joy for French fans on Monday as 47th-ranked Luca Van Assche defeated No. 48 Mariano Navone of Argentina, 6-3, 7-5, in one hour and 54 minutes on Court 1 to earn his first Paris Masters win.

The 22-year-old Van Assche, who broke into the Top 40 for the first time in August, saved all three break points he faced and broke Navone’s serve three times. It was his personal-best 13th tour-level win of the season.

• Advancing to the second round: Qualifier Mattia Bellucci, ranked 66th, won an all-Italian battle over 106th-ranked qualifier Lorenzo Sonego, 6-4, 6-3; No. 33 Ignacio Buse of Peru defeated No. 40 Zizou Bergs of Belgium, 6-2, 6-4; 83rd-ranked qualifier Rinky Hijikata of Australia upset No. 21 Luciano Darderi of Italy, 6-2, 6-2; and No. 42 Daniel Merida of Spain eliminated 52nd-ranked Argentine lucky loser Sebastian Baez, 6-4, 6-2.

Also, No. 45 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain outlasted No. 36 Matteo Arnaldi of Italy, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; 69th-ranked qualifier Tomas Machac of Czechia eliminated 80th-ranked French wild card Kyrian Jacquet, 7-6 (7), 6-1; and 78th-ranked qualifier Alex Molcan of Slovakia went the distance to beat 79th-ranked wild card Titouan Droguet of France, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

In Monday’s night session on Court Central, World No. 25 Karen Khachanov of Russia advanced to the second round by injury retirement over No. 51 Denis Shapovalov of Canada. Shapovalov led 3-6, 7-6 (6), 4-1 after two hours and 10 minutes when he was forced to retire due to a upper right leg injury that required medical attention during the third set.

Next, Khachanov, one of five former champions in the main draw, will await the outcome of Tuesday’s match between No. 13 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain and 17-year-old French wild card Moise Kouame, ranked No. 132.

• World No. 6 and fifth seed Flavio Cobolli withdrew on Monday citing a left leg injury. He was replaced in the draw by 53rd-ranked lucky loser Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina.

“I was really hoping I could make it,” Cobolli wrote on Instagram. “Today, after media day, I tried training in the gym, but I’m still feeling some discomfort and I don’t want to take any risks. So I’ve decided to withdraw from Paris.

“This one really hurts. This city gave me the two biggest weeks of my career this year, and playing here again would have meant a lot. Now it’s all about recovering. Thank you for always being there.”

• In doubles, among the first-round winners: French wild cards Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Rinderknech; Argentine duo Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and French wild cards Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

• New World No. 1 Alexander Zverev was honored with an on-court trophy ceremony Monday afternoon on Court Central, in which he received the ATP World No. 1 trophy from ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and Rolex Paris Masters tournament director Cedric Piolione.

On Monday, the 29-year-old Zverev became the 30th player to rise to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and just the second German player to achieve the feat.

“It’s incredibly special to celebrate it here in Paris, where a couple of months ago I won my first Grand Slam title,” Zverev said during his on-court remarks. “I always loved this city. … To receive this trophy in Paris is extremely special to me.”

 

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• Gaël Monfils, twice a Rolex Paris Masters finalist, will celebrate his retirement in Paris on Tuesday during an on-court ceremony. Monfils, who made his last tour-level appearance at the US Open in August, reached a career-best ranking of World No. 6 and accumulated a 588-360 win-loss record.

Monday’s Paris Masters results

Tuesday’s Paris Masters order of play

By the numbers

Novak Djokovic, 39, owns Rolex Paris Masters tournament records for most wins (50) and titles (seven). He’s playing at this event for the first time since winning the 2023 title. His first-round match against Basel champion Valentin Vacherot of Monaco is Tuesday afternoon.

Djokovic also owns ATP Masters 1000 records for most wins (420), semifinals (80), finals (60) and titles (40). He has reached the final in Paris in eight of his last nine appearances at this event.

“Quotable …”

“I am just trying to play my game, believing in myself, trying to hit my shots. I think that’s one of the most important things. I know I still have to learn a lot from this first year on tour. I have so many things to improve starting with my returns. I know I can do better. That’s my goal the next few months.”

– Rafael Jodar of Spain, during his on-court interview Monday after defeating Alejandro Tabilo to advance to the second round of the Paris Masters.

 

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