Hometown Hero Rafael Jodar Gives It His All In Madrid

Rafael Jodar
Rafael Jodar (photo: Alvaro Diaz/MMO)

MADRID/WASHINGTON, April 22, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Make no mistake, Rafael Jodar is the next big thing to rock Spanish tennis.

As the 24th edition of the Mutua Madrid Open began ATP Masters 1000 main draw play at Caja Magica on Wednesday, the 19-year-old Spanish prodigy from the capital city of Madrid showed he was at home on Manolo Santana Stadium in his hometown debut.

Jodar, who was featured Wednesday evening on the tournament’s biggest show court against 109th-ranked Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands, came into his first Madrid Open as the event’s biggest headliner – especially, with the absence of fellow Spaniard, World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, who was forced to miss his second-straight Madrid Open tournament due to a right wrist injury he suffered earlier this month.

Jodar, a wild card entry, overcame some early nerves and rallied to beat De Jong, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, in two hours and 31 minutes. He became just the third Spaniard – after Rafael Nadal and Alcaraz – to earn a main-draw victory in Madrid before turning 20.

Next, Jodar will face World No. 8 and fifth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia in the second round

Throughout Jodar’s rapid rise in the ATP Tour rankings to No. 42, three weeks after cracking the Top 100 – and after being ranked just inside the Top 700 a year ago – the young Spaniard has been much sought after for autographs and selfies as well as interviews, too. As long as the 6-foot-3-inch, 154-pound Jodar remains in the draw – and he recently won his first ATP Tour title at Marrakech earlier this month and was a semifinalist last week in Barcelona – thanks to his strong serve and steady groundstrokes – it’s likely he will be given star treatment when it comes to court assignments. 

“I try to handle the pressure as I have done since I was little,” Jodar said during his pre-tournament news conference on Monday, after breaking into the ATP Top 50. “I’ve always been a very calm person both on and off the court. I know there’ll be moments when things don’t go as well as they have in recent tournaments. In those moments, you prove whether you’re mentally strong. Those moments will also make me stronger.”

A year ago, Jodar won three ATP Challenger Tour titles, at Hersonissos, Greece; at Lincoln, Neb.; and at Charlottesville, Va. The last one came in the same city where he briefly played collegiate tennis for the University of Virginia in the United States, while honing his game. By the end of 2025, Jodar had qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals and also turned professional.

This year, Jodar has compiled an impressive 25-8 win-loss record in all competitions. Recently, he strung together an eight-match winning streak that began in Marrakech and ended when he lost a tough three-setter in the semifinal round to eventual champion Arthur Fils of France at Barcelona, in his debut event on Spanish soil.

Looking back on his remarkable 8-1 start to the clay-court season, Jodar knew he was doing things right. “These last few months have gone very quickly for me and I’ve played a lot of matches,” he said. “I can’t say I could have imagined it.

“But I’m very happy to have started the clay swing like this, having played so many matches gives me a lot of confidence for this Madrid tournament. But I’m aware the conditions are completely different to the two previous tournaments I’ve played on this surface. I have to try to adapt as best I can.”

One thing’s certain: Jodar, like the player he idolized growing up, Nadal, will give it his all – win or lose.

“It’s a joy to play this tournament where I used to come as a spectator when I was young,” Jodar said. “Two or three years ago I came as a sparring partner. I’m really looking forward to getting started. There’ll be lots of familiar faces coming to watch me. I’ll try to do my best and enjoy myself.”

Alcaraz says he won’t rush his return from wrist injury

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion at the French Open. However, during a news conference Monday for the Laureus Awards in Madrid, where the 22-year-old Spaniard was named Sportsman of the Year, Alcaraz said he would not rush his return to tennis from an injury to his right wrist just to play in this year’s Roland-Garros, which starts May 24 in Paris.

“I have a very long career ahead of me, with many years still to come. Forcing things at this Roland Garros could really harm me for future tournaments,” Alcaraz said, speaking in Spanish.

“ … We’ll see how it goes. As I said, I’d rather come back a little later but in good shape than come back too soon, rushing things and not at my best.”

Cilic rallies past Bergs for first Madrid win since 2022

No. 51 Marin Cilic of Croatia, playing in his 13th Madrid main draw after debuting in 2008, earned his first win since 2022 by defeating No. 44 Zizou Bergs of Belgium, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in two hours and seven minutes on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium.

It’s his first Top 50 win on clay since 2022 at Roland-Garros, when he defeated No. 2 Daniil Medvedev and No. 7 Andrey Rublev during a semifinal run, completing the set of all four Grand Slam semifinals.

Against Bergs, Cilic hit 24 winners – including nine aces – and converted two of four break points. He outpointed Bergs 84-77.

“Overall, I played well and that’s the most important thing for my own game,” Cilic said during his on-court interview, after garnering his 10th victory of the season.
“Playing in these events it’s always special. It’s definitely worth it. It’s always great with the emotions and the level of play. I enjoy that. The crowd here loves tennis, they love the battle and to see the emotions. It brings the best out of us.”

Next, Cilic faces No. 27 seed Joao Fonseca of Brazil.

Bautista Agut bows out of final Madrid Open

No. 93 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, playing in his final Madrid Open before he retires at the end of the season, lost in the first round to No. 75 Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina, 6-2, 6-4, in an hour and 17 minute on Manolo Santana Stadium. The 38-year-old Spaniard, appearing in his 12th consecutive Madrid Open main draw, was recognized in a post-match ceremony by tournament director Feliciano Lopez and his family joined him on the court.

Around Caja Magica

Wednesday’s first day of the men’s main draw saw a total of 16 first-round matches spread across five courts. Among the winners moving into the second round were:

No. 41 Tomas Machac of Czechia, No. 43 Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, No. 58 Ignacio Buse of Peru, No. 63 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, No. 66 Vit Kopriva of Czechia, No. 75 Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina, No. 81 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, No. 83 Sebastian Ofner of Austria, No. 84 Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina, 87th-ranked qualifier Dino Prizmic of Croatia, 104th-ranked qualifier Benjamin Bonzi of France, No. 116 Emilio Nava of the United States, 138th-ranked qualifier Dusan Lajovic of Serbia and 169th-ranked qualifier Elmer Moller of Denmark.

Wednesday’s Madrid Open results

Thursday’s Madrid Open order of play

By the numbers

Rafael Nadal won the Madrid Open five times during his career. He won the ATP Masters 1000 event in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017. He holds the record for the most titles at this tournament.

“Quotable …”

“I’ve never set myself a goal. I have to take it tournament by tournament, it’s my first year on tour. I think I’m still a young player and I’m discovering a lot at these tournaments. I need to gain experience, compete against these kinds of players. I don’t set targets for the future, just take it tournament by tournament and do my best.”

– Rafael Jodar of Spain, during his pre-tournament news conference on Monday.

 

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