Rafael Jodar: Racing Towards Jeddah with Laptop in Hand
Discover the journey of this 19-year-old Spanish prodigy
October 23, 2025
Jason Harris/MarketBeat Open
Rafael Jodar: A Rising Star at the Sioux Falls Challenger
By Grant Thompson
Rafael Jodar is on fire! Balancing college with a badminton career, this dynamo from Spain has claimed two ATP Challenger titles in the last couple of months, elevating him to ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah.
His latest victory was in Lincoln, where he only dropped a single set on his way to the trophy. But it’s not just tennis; after each match, Jodar returns to his hotel room to tackle homework for all five of his classes.
“I make sure to complete all my assignments by Friday and Saturday,” Jodar shared with ATPTour.com. “I want to enjoy my Sunday off. My laptop is always with me because you have to keep up with schoolwork. It’s good to have something else on your mind aside from tennis. When I get some free moments, I work to catch up on what I missed during the week.”
Coming from a family of educators, Jodar fiercely values his academic commitments even amidst his ascent in professional tennis.
The cutoff for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah is looming (November 10), and Jodar will need to maintain his momentum to secure a spot. After his recent win in Lincoln, he leaped from 18th to 9th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah—news even he found surprising.
“I didn’t realize I was ranked ninth! If I qualify, it would be an amazing opportunity to compete against some top players, and I feel it could be a great experience for me,” said Jodar, who served as a sparring partner at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals.
Trophy time for Rafa Jodar 😎 #ATPChallenger | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/cvODPSHx8H
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 19, 2025
Jodar isn’t the only one from Spain aiming for Jeddah. His friend, Martin Landaluce, who also hails from Madrid, stands strong at fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah. Both players honed their skills at Club de Tenis Chamartín.
Following his successful title run in Lincoln, University of Virginia head coach Andres Pedroso drove Jodar three and a half hours north to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he is now joined by assistant coach Brian Rasmussen for the MarketBeat Open. Jodar aims to further solidify his chances for the 20-and-under event slated for December 17-21.
