Jodar Shines Bright, Cilic Prepares for Fonseca Duel: Catch the Highlights of Madrid Day 1
Experience the most thrilling moments from the inaugural day of action in Madrid!
April 22, 2026
Image Credit: Getty Images
Rafael Jodar showcases his prowess on his first appearance in Madrid.
By Sam Jacot
On the opening day of the Mutua Madrid Open, Rafael Jodar, Marin Cilic, and Dino Prizmic celebrated their victories, while Roberto Bautista Agut bid farewell to the Spanish audience after his final match at this prestigious tournament.
Join us at ATPTour.com as we revisit the most exciting stories from Wednesday through engaging video highlights.
Spanish sensation Jodar electrified the crowd with his thrilling match against Jesper de Jong, overcoming a set deficit to prevail 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in his tournament debut. Just weeks after claiming his first ATP title in Marrakech, the 19-year-old also made waves by reaching the semifinals at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona.
Having been ranked outside the Top 600 just a year ago, Jodar has now stormed into the rankings at a remarkable career-high of No. 42.
Football star Jude Bellingham was in attendance to support Jodar, sharing a moment and snapping a photo together that fans couldn’t get enough of.
As Bautista Agut took to the court for the last time, he was honored with a heartfelt presentation from the tournament. Despite losing to Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-2, 6-4, Bautista Agut delighted fans with a magical moment in the second set, reminiscent of his glory days, especially his remarkable run to the semifinals in 2014.
Cilic marked a return to form by securing his first win in Madrid since 2022, taking down Zizou Bergs in a fierce battle that ended 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, setting up an exciting second-round showdown with #NextGenATP competitor Joao Fonseca. It’s noteworthy that Cilic made his tournament debut in 2008, two years before Fonseca was even born!
Dino Prizmic made headlines by defeating former Top 10 star Matteo Berrettini, showcasing his talent, including a spectacular tweener shot late in the second set. This victory marked only his second ATP main draw win, setting him up for a challenging match against fourth-seeded American Ben Shelton.
Tomas Machac also celebrated a victory in Madrid, overcoming Francisco Comesana 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3, continuing his promising form that saw him reach the fourth round in Monte-Carlo, famously ending Jannik Sinner’s remarkable 37-set streak at Masters 1000 events.
Hubert Hurkacz pushed through to the next round, defeating Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-3, 6-3. Although he reached the quarter-finals in Madrid in 2022, Hurkacz has faced challenges this season, currently standing at 8-8, especially after spending the last five months of the previous year recovering from an injury.
