Rafael Jodar
Jodar reveals keys to challenging Sinner in Madrid
Spaniard faces World No. 1 in QF
April 28, 2026
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Jannik Sinner and Rafael Jodar will meet for the first time on Wednesday in Madrid.
By ATPTour.com/es Staff
Rafael Jodar will play one of those matches every player dreams of being a part of when he steps onto court on Wedesday. The Spanish #NextGenATP star will take on World No. 1 Jannik Sinner for the first time at the Mutua Madrid Open. With the support of his home crowd and the attention of the entire circuit, one of the ATP Tour’s brightest emerging talents is about to take on his biggest challenge yet.
“It’s going to be very exciting to play Jannik for the first time, and to do so in my own city”, Jodar admitted, thrilled at his incredible opportunity in the Manolo Santana Stadium. “I have to take it point by point”.
That consistency has been key for Jodar this week at the Caja Magica, where he has managed to stare down increasingly significant opponents. The Madrid native claimed his first Top 10 win against Alex de Minaur, defeated Brazilian 19-year-old Joao Fonseca in a huge generational clash, and earned his place in his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final by beat Vit Kopriva.
“There’s a long way to go before we think about beating a World No. 1. But if I do things right and keep a good mindset, those chances might come,” Jodar said. “I could be in with a chance to win the match. I need to do everything very well and focus on what has worked for me so far. All the opponents play at a high level, so you have to concentrate on what you do best”.
Wednesday’s experience will hold no surprises for Jodar, who will stand across the net from a four-time major champion. For the Madrid player, it will be a battle, but also a chance to measure the gap that still separates him from the elite level on Tour.
“Jannik is a great player, you can see that in any of his matches,” Jodar said. “He’s very focused and has an enormous mentality. That helps him a lot. He’s got fantastic shots. If I want to do well tomorrow, I’ll have to play my very best.”
Jodar has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, climbing to No. 34 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings thanks to some performances on court. In the opening months of 2026, the Spaniard has broken new ground in his career, including his first match win at a major and his first ATP Tour trophy. Now in Madrid comes the challenge of making things difficult for the best player in the world.
“I’m expecting nothing less than a very tough match. I’ll try to give my best and learn a lot from this experience,” Jodar said. “I want to go out there with the same mentality as in all my previous matches, with the confidence that I’ll have my chances if I do things right.”
