Rising star Jodar chalks up latest statement victory at Madrid Open

Spain’s Rafael Jodar is very much on the charge and enjoyed a statement victory at the weekend over fellow rising star Joao Fonseca to reach the round of 16 at the Madrid Open.

The 19-year-old only broke the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings in late March but is now No. 34 in the live rankings following a blistering run of form which included his maiden Tour-level title at Marrakech.

Indeed, so comfortable does Jodar look in his current surroundings it is easy to forget that his rise has been meteoric. As recently as February last year, Jodar was ranked No. 903 in the ATP Rankings. 

Jodar is a player the ITF knows well following his time competing on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors. He won a host of junior titles as he advanced along the player pathway, with his most high-profile being the US Open boys’ singles title in 2024. He reached a career-high No. 4 in the ITF World Tennis Tour boys' rankings. 

The teenager also qualified for the 2024 ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals – the junior equivalent of the ATP and WTA Finals – and finished runner-up to Mees Rottgering of Netherlands. Here is Jodar in action at the 2024 ITF Junior Finals.

Shortly before competing at the ITF Junior Finals, Jodar was invited to be a hitting partner for Spain at the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, which included the final professional appearance of his idol Rafael Nadal. 

Spain captain David Ferrer has cited Jodar's emergence as "good news" for the national team, so a senior call up to the Spanish Davis Cup team may well be in the offing later this year.