Match Reaction
Sinner on ‘What a player’ sign off after Jodar win: ‘He’s playing incredible tennis’
World No. 1 will face Lehecka or Fils in semi-finals at ATP Masters 1000 event
April 29, 2026
Mutua Madrid Open
Jannik Sinner defeats Rafael Jodar to reach the semi-finals at the Mutua Madrid Open for the first time.
By Andy West
Jannik Sinner overcame Rafael Jodar in straight sets on Wednesday afternoon at the Mutua Madrid Open. Yet that did not stop the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings from signing off with a pointed message praising his fast-rising #NextGenATP opponent.
Asked to sign one of the TV cameras on court after his 6-2, 7-6(0) triumph inside Manolo Santana Stadium, Sinner made it clear what he thought of the 19-year-old hometown favourite Jodar’s abilities with a simple message: ‘What a player’, wrote the Italian.
“Look, I think [he is] a player who has been ranked very, very high [after] the beginning of the season, and playing some incredible tennis,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference when asked about his signing-off message. “In Barcelona winning [matches]. Marrakech, I know he won [the title]. Making [semi-finals] in Barcelona, coming here and making quarters. He’s already a very solid player, and I think he has shown why. He’s playing very high-quality tennis.”
The way Sinner handled the big moments against Jodar — including saving all seven break points he faced against the free-hitting Spaniard, according to Infosys ATP Stats — was typical of a player who has now won his past 21 tour-level matches. Sinner, who is bidding to become the first player to win five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events, said in his on-court interview that Jodar had pushed him ‘to the limit’.
“Of course [I felt] pressure, because before the match I was the favourite,” added Sinner in his press conference. “But at the same time you need to handle the pressure in a very good way. I felt like the atmosphere was very fair and supporting Rafael. But at the same time, it was very, very fair and that’s something what I really appreciate from the fans. We were hoping for a good match, and that was the case. So when you’re part of a good match, it’s always a good feeling.
“In the beginning he maybe felt a bit of tension, which is normal. But after, it came out as a good match. I had a little bit of experience, a little bit more experience than him in crucial moments, but it was a good match.”
Sinner will next prepare for a semi-final meeting against 11th seed Jiri Lehecka or 21st seed Arthur Fils in the Spanish capital, where one of Jodar’s fellow 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals competitors, Alexander Blockx, remains in the draw: The 21-year-old Belgian takes on defending champion Casper Ruud in Thursday’s afternoon quarter-final.
“Especially this tournament here, very young players are coming through,” said Sinner, who on Sunday went to watch some of Jodar’s third-round win against another 19-year-old, Joao Fonseca. “We cannot forget also about Blockx, for example. He’s a bit under the radar but is he an incredible player. Everyone is improving, so you need always to be in the present moment.
“That’s also one of the reasons why I went to watch [Jodar against] Joao Fonseca. I like to watch because I know that they are going to be potentially the future opponents most of the time. Everyone is a very different player, and you need to adjust yourself. Even though here it’s a quite unique place to play, at the same time you also need to find solutions here.
“So it was a great match [today]. I found a way through. I am starting to get a bit tired also, but at the same time, I try to recover as much as I can and then we see how it goes for the semis.”
