MADRID, September 3, 2026
Pedro Rodenas is enjoying a strong summer on the ITF World Tennis Tour after graduating from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. The 22-year-old Spaniard finished runner-up in July in Denia and reached the semis in Oviedo last week.
Now based in Alicante, Rodenas is beginning his first full-time season on the Pro Circuit. After defeating compatriot Sergi Fita Juan 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the LXI Copa Alameda – XLV Torneo Internacional Villa de Madrid on Wednesday, the world No. 676 spoke about his return to the professional tour, his four years of college tennis in the United States, growing up in Madrid and his ambitions for the future.
Tennis TourTalk: Pedro, first of all, congratulations on your first-round win. You defeated another Spaniard, Sergi Fita Juan, 6-2, 6-2. How did you see the match?
Pedro Rodenas: Thank you. I had played against Sergi a couple of times already during the summer, so I knew it was going to be a tough match. He likes to play with heavy topspin and look for his forehand.
The start was a little rough for me, but I managed to get myself back into the match. I started seeing some doubt in him and just kept going and putting pressure on him. In the end, I managed to get the win.
You are still only 22. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are based?
I’ve just graduated from Duke University, where I studied marketing. Now I’m practicing in Alicante, down south here in Spain, with Pedro Rico and the academy ATC.
I don’t feel that young anymore, but it’s true that I’m just starting to play professionally now. Because I was in college, I haven’t been able to play a full calendar before, so I’m very excited to finally do that.
Why did you decide to go to college in the United States?
It was a mixed decision with my parents. They really wanted me to keep studying, and that was very important to them. They had always pushed me to study from a very young age. They didn’t want me to leave that part aside and go straight into tennis.
So we came up with the idea of going to college. We thought it was the best option to combine both things, and it has been a wonderful four years.
I had a lot of fun there, both on and off the court, with the team. It’s very different from being on the professional tour.
College tennis in the US is also quite different in terms of the atmosphere and the facilities. How did you find that experience?
I always liked hard courts because I grew up here in Madrid, where we have some altitude and a lot of hard courts. I also like quick surfaces.
I struggled a little bit to adapt at the beginning, but once I got into the rhythm and got the hang of it, it felt very natural and very fun. The venues are also great because you have a lot of people coming to the matches, cheering for you and sometimes heckling you. So it was a wonderful four years.
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You were born and raised in Madrid and actually live very close to this club. Does that make this tournament particularly special for you?
Definitely. I’m from Madrid and I actually live five minutes away from this club. I come here walking every morning, so this is the most “at home” tournament I have all year.
I’ve played here when I was younger and I know the people who run the tournament very well. They’ve seen me grow up. I also have good memories here because I think this is where I passed my first qualifying draw at a professional event.
So it feels very much like home.
And your family is still in Madrid?
Yes, my parents live here with my sister, who is still at school. I don’t live with them that much anymore, so it’s nice to be here for a week and spend some time with them.
How did you get into tennis in the first place?
My dad was the one who made me try a lot of different sports when I was very young. He put me into swimming, tennis, football, golf — we tried a lot of things.
I actually liked football the most until I started competing in tennis when I was a little older. The feeling of competing was what made me change my mind.
I think having to depend on myself was what kept me from going further into football. I’m pretty happy with my decision. It was mostly my dad who introduced me to sports, and eventually I just stuck with tennis.
How would you describe your playing style?
I’d say it’s quite different. I try to attack a lot and I’m able to do many different things. I try to take time away from my opponents, but if I need to make more balls and be patient, I can do that too.
I think I’m able to adapt very well. Most of the time my goal is to make the other guy uncomfortable. I have a lot of weapons to do that against different players.
I’d describe my tennis as attacking tennis with a certain amount of control. I try to put pressure on my opponent and make him play the shots he doesn’t like rather than just relying on my own strengths.
What do you see as the biggest challenge in establishing yourself on the professional tour?
I think consistency is one of them. I haven’t been able to play more than during the summers so far, so I want to see where my ranking can get after one full year.
I don’t think I have a limit. I think I have the level and the talent to make it. I just think it’s going to come down to consistency, day in and day out, both at tournaments and at home when I’m practicing.
I want to leave everything out there and have no regrets once I’m done with tennis.
You are now based in Alicante. Do you normally travel alone or with a coach?
I’ve been doing a little bit of both. This week I’m alone because I’m at home, but I’ve travelled with coaches, friends and sometimes my girlfriend.
I haven’t really settled into one way of travelling yet. I’ll probably travel with one of my friends who wants to get into coaching. That way we can help each other, and we tried it over the last couple of weeks and it went pretty well. So I think I’m going to stick with that for now.
When I’m in Alicante, I practice at the academy and try to work as hard as I can.
After four years in the US, how do you feel about travelling so much on the professional tour?
I loved it when I was younger, but being four years away from home has made it a little harder. Especially now, during the summer, it’s been tougher to feel good about being two or three weeks away from home.
But I think I’ll get back into the rhythm now. I’ll be spending more time with my family and having them closer, so it will be easier.
I’m also fortunate that there are so many tournaments in Spain. If a tournament doesn’t go well, you can always go home, practice and then go to the next one. Right now, I like being at home. Even if a tournament is an hour and a half or two hours away, I’d rather stay at home and drive every day.
But generally, I don’t have an issue with travelling. I actually enjoy visiting new cities and exploring different things.
Do you also make time to explore when you are travelling?
Yes. For example, last week we were in Oviedo playing a 25K tournament. The club was very central, so we were lucky enough to stay close to the city centre. We walked around every day and went out for dinner.
We always try to book a restaurant 10 or 15 minutes away on foot so we can walk around and see what we can find. I really enjoy trying the local food and exploring the cities. There are things outside of tennis that I enjoy as well.
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You have already won two titles on the World Tennis Tour: in Xativa 2022 and Denia 2023. What did those first professional trophies mean to you?
The first one was very unique because it was the week before I went to study in the US. I won the tournament and that same night we drove back to Madrid. The next morning I got on a flight.
It was a very different experience. It probably didn’t help me too much because it gave me some expectations that I was already ready to play professionally. Then I went to the US and didn’t play my best tennis at the beginning, so that hit me quite hard.
The following summer I had a very good run. I won a 25K and reached a 15K final in six tournaments, and I made three semifinals as well.
So I know I have the level. It’s true that over the last few years I haven’t been able to close out tournaments, but deep down I know I have the level and it’s just a matter of time.
I’ve had a pretty productive summer, and I didn’t expect to have these results already. It gives me more confidence and makes me believe that I can do it.
What do you like to do away from tennis?
I like spending time with my family and friends. I like going out to good restaurants with friends.
I’m also getting into economics and investments and trying to learn more about that. I want to keep my mind busy and continue studying. Tennis takes five or six hours a day, but there are so many other things you can do with the rest of your time.
I’ve also been learning how to cook since I live alone, so I’ve been finding new hobbies and different things to do.
But my biggest hobby is probably football. I watch a lot of football.
So which club do you support?
I am a fan of Real Madrid.
Do you have a tennis player you particularly look up to?
Of course, Carlos Alcaraz is someone very close to me because he’s only a year older than me. I’ve seen him grow up.
But honestly, I don’t watch that much tennis. I do have friends who have made it, though, and I like supporting them and following how they’re doing.
One of my close friends, Dani Merida, just broke into the Top 50. We’ve known each other since we were eight, so I like to follow him.
I’ve also known Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar for a long time. I’m just happy to see them doing well.
There is a strong generation of young players coming out of Madrid. Do you all know each other well?
Yes, we do. Dani is my age, so we’ve known each other forever and played everything together.
Rafa and Martin are the same generation, two years younger than us. I played with Martin more in the juniors because he was very advanced for his age. We played doubles together and everything.
I’ve also seen Rafa at college and at the club. We’re from the same tennis club here in Madrid (Chamartin). So we all know each other pretty well.
What are your goals now that you are beginning your professional career full-time?
Right now, I just want to keep improving. I don’t set myself specific result or ranking goals.
I want to keep improving, find my level and find consistency. I know that if I find those things, the results will come. I’m not putting pressure on myself to reach a certain ranking.
I want to make a living from tennis, get as high as I can and give myself the chance. That’s my goal.
You are the No. 3 seed here in Madrid. What can we expect from you for the rest of the tournament?
Hopefully, a lot more matches. But I’m not putting any goals on that either.
I just want to go match by match. I played a lot of matches last week, so now I’m just trying to get my body back into match rhythm.
I’m confident that I can have a good week. And even if I don’t have it, I’ll keep going.
Thank you and all the best.
Interview: Florian Heer
