Rafael Jodar Shines at Home: Matches Nadal & Alcaraz Feat in Madrid
Spaniard prepares for Round 2 against De Minaur; Hurkacz and Machac also move forward
April 22, 2026
David Ramos/Getty Images
Hailing from Madrid, Rafael Jodar is just 12 kilometers away from the Mutua Madrid Open.
By Jerome Coombe
On his debut at the Mutua Madrid Open, Rafael Jodar had to dig deep, but the emerging star delighted the local crowd with a memorable performance.
At just 19 years old, the wild card contender triumphed over Jesper de Jong with a score of 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, securing his spot in the next round of the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 tournament. Standing at a career-high No. 42 in the PIF ATP Rankings after clinching his first ATP Tour title in Marrakech earlier this month, Jodar is set to face fifth seed Alex de Minaur next.
Initially, nerves were evident as Jodar recalled his days as a fan at the event, but he soon hit his stride and secured the critical win. He saved all three break points he encountered in the second set before finally seizing victory on his fifth set point, navigating a thrilling final set.
His two-hour and 30-minute match made him only the third Spaniard, joining the likes of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, to win a main-draw match in Madrid before the age of 20.
A mere year ago, Jodar was ranked outside the world’s Top 650, yet he has remarkably catapulted into the spotlight as one of tennis’s most promising talents. After showcasing his skills at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals, he now boasts a 14-7 tour-level record in 2026, highlighted by his championship win in Marrakech and a trip to the Barcelona semi-finals just last week.
In other exciting matches on Wednesday in Madrid, French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi defeated compatriot Titouan Droguet 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-4, setting up a clash against top seed Jannik Sinner, who comes in with a 17-match winning streak after victories in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo.
Also celebrating first-round wins were Hubert Hurkacz and Tomas Machac. Hurkacz comfortably passed Jaime Faria with a score of 6-3, 6-3, earning a match against last year’s semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti, while Machac fought back to triumph over Francisco Comesana with a score of 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3.
Catch the Day 1 Extended Highlights from Madrid
