Match Report
Jodar follows in path of Nadal & Alcaraz, reaches Barcelona SFs
Spaniard to face Fils in semi-finals
April 17, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Rafael Jodar is into the semi-finals in Barcelona.
By ATP Staff
#NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar earned his second consecutive win against Cameron Norrie on Friday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, where he eased past the Briton 6-3, 6-2. With the victory, the 19-year-old extended his winning streak to eight matches.
The Spaniard overcame the former World No. 8 in straight sets in Acapulco in February and once again got the better of the 30-year-old with a solid performance at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona. Despite dropping serve twice early in the first set, the Spaniard showed great composure to recover, continuing to play relentless aggression to claw his way back into control.
“Cameron is always a tough opponent,” Jodar said. “I think I handled the important moments and the pressure moments in the match very well. I am very happy with my performance today, but I know I have to keep going. I have to keep pushing. There are still more matches to come.”
Jodar is now just the fifth Spanish teenager in the Open Era to reach the Barcelona semi-finals, joining Alex Corretja (1994), Carlos Moya (1996), Rafael Nadal (2005, 2006) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022, 2023).
In the pair’s second Lexus ATP Head2Head clash, Jodar struck 21 winners to eight from Norrie and won 75 per cent (24/32) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. With his 69-minute victory, the Spaniard earned his third Top 30 win after defeating No. 28 Learner Tien at the Next Gen ATP Finals and then-No. 26 Norrie in Acapulco first round in February.
Ranked outside the world’s Top 600 just 12 months ago, Jodar’s ascent has been rapid. The 2024 US Open boys’ singles champion made his first appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2025 and has continued to rise this season. The Spaniard now has 13 tour-level wins, highlighted by his maiden tour-level title in Marrakech and a third-round appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami.
Up five spots to No. 42 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, the 19-year-old will try to reach his second tour-level final on Saturday when he takes on ninth seed Arthur Fils, who defeated second seed Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semi-finals.
