Rafael Jodar beats Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-1 and advances to the Madrid Masters
Rafael Jodar defeated Alex from Minaur this Friday. The 19-year-old Spaniard beat the eighth-ranked Australian 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour. The triumph came in the second round of Mutua Madrid Open. Jodar, who entered as a wildcard, celebrated with the local crowd at Caja Mágica.
The game took place in the late afternoon on Madrid. Jodar applied pressure from the start with powerful and accurate forehands. De Minaur, known for his speed, found no answers to the pace imposed by his opponent. The Australian made unforced errors at key moments. The score reflected the Spaniard’s dominance.
Jodar records first victory against top 10
The result marks a milestone in Jodar’s career. Ele reached the top 10 for the first time. The young man, born in September 2006, comes from a positive streak. Ele won the title from Marrakech in early April. Depois reached the semi-finals on Barcelona.
- Venceu 10 of the last 11 games before this match
- Subiu to number 42 in the rankings this week
- Treinou near tournament venue during childhood
- Idolo from childhood was Rafael Nadal
Jannik Sinner watched the game from the side of the court. The world number 1 observed the Spaniard’s performance. Jodar raised his arms at the end of the 75-minute clash. The crowd responded with applause. The wildcard showed offensive power on both sides of the court.
Espanhol grows on fast clay court
Jodar started the year outside the top 600 about a year ago. Ele went to university at Estados Unidos before turning pro. Performance in 2026 includes consistent wins on different surfaces. Em Madrid, he had already surpassed Jesper of Jong in his debut. The game lasted two and a half hours.
The local tennis player used the crowd to his advantage. Ele alternated aggression with tactical control. De Minaur, fifth favorite, was in a good phase this season. The Australian was unable to impose his counterattacking game. Jodar broke his rival’s serve at decisive moments.
Próximo opponent is Brazilian Joao Fonseca
Jodar will face Joao Fonseca in the third round. The 19-year-old Brazilian advanced after Marin Cilic withdrew due to food poisoning. The matchup brings together two of the youngest players in the top 100. Apenas Jodar and Fonseca, born in 2006 or later, have wins against top 10 players so far.
Fonseca reached the quarterfinals in Monte Carlo. Ele also had a good campaign in other events. The duel of generations takes place on the clay of the Spanish capital. Jodar plays at home and has the support of the fans.
Recent Trajetória shows rapid evolution
The Spaniard competed in Miami and reached the third round. Ele repeated the feat in Madrid. The wildcard already adds important points for the ranking. Ele remains focused on clay courts at this stage of the season.
De Minaur was unable to repeat previous performances in the tournament. The Australian has a positive history in some Masters, but he found an inspired opponent. Jodar controlled the long points and exploited flaws in his rival’s backhand. The score was built with breaks in the first and second sets.
The public watched the game expectantly. Muitos fans wore t-shirts with the names of Spanish tennis players. Jodar lived up to expectations by maintaining a high level throughout the match. Ele avoided swings common in young players.
Jodar demonstrated maturity by closing the sets solidly. Ele didn’t give the world eighth player a chance to react. The result confirms the good moment of Spanish tennis with new names. The country celebrates another notable victory on the circuit.
