Player Features
Alcaraz on Jodar & Landaluce: ‘They have a great future’
Two-time Barcelona champion Alcaraz praises his fellow Spaniards
April 14, 2026
José Izquierdo/BOBS 2026
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Jodar on the practice court in Barcelona.
By ATPTour.com/es Staff
Despite being just 22 years of age, Carlos Alcaraz speaks like a seasoned veteran. In his short-yet-eventful career, he has already led the PIF ATP Rankings as World No. 1 for 66 weeks and claimed 26 tour-level titles, seven of them majors and a further eight ATP Masters 1000 crowns.
This week, apart from being the top seed, Alcaraz is one of the most experienced home players at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, where he is sharing the draw with two Spanish #NextGenATP stars born in 2006: Rafael Jodar and Martín Landaluce.
“Rafa is an outstanding player, if I’m honest,” the World No. 2 said of his countryman, who has now chalked up six consecutive ATP Tour wins after securing his maiden title in Marrakech. “I’ve been following him and I think he’s broken into the Tour really quickly.”
Alcaraz has known Jodar since 2024, when the Madrid native joined the Spanish Davis Cup team. “He took an opportunity to be a sparring partner, so I was able to train with him and see what he was capable of,” Alcaraz said. But it was not the only time he has spent on court with the player, who is three years his junior.
“This year in Australia I was able to play a practice set with him and witness his level. From Australia until now, what he’s achieved has been amazing,” Alcaraz said. “I’m really pleased for him, because you can see he’s an outstanding guy both on and off the court, with incredible values and, above all, [he is] very chill off the court.”
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The two-time Barcelona champion (2022, 2023) elaborated on his relationship with Jodar off the court, saying: “I wish him all the best. Whenever he plays well, wins a tournament or gets a good result, I try to congratulate him and, above all, I’m really pleased for him.”
But after securing his spot in the second round this Tuesday against Otto Virtanen, Alcaraz was keen to point out that Jodar is part of a generation that is waiting for its moment, which also includes another talented player, Martin Landaluce.
“It helps [Jodar] a lot to have players his age also breaking through, like Landaluce, who for me is also an incredible player. I had the chance to practise with him before heading to Monte-Carlo,” Alcaraz said. “I think the two of them will mutually help each other to keep improving and reach the top. They have a great future.”
In the meantime, though, both Jodar and Landaluce could not have a better role model to look up to.
