Jódar, on cloud nine after winning the US Open Junior: "It's like I'm dreaming"

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Rafael Jódar arrived at the US Open Junior with a very clear objective, to achieve a feat that seemed difficult but possible, to win the tournament. On his way to the final, he faced the world number two and three in his category, American Kaylan Bigun and Japanese Rei Sakamoto, winners of the Australian Open and Roland Garros respectively, to top it off in a dramatic final against the world number one and reigning Wimbledon champion, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.

With a celebration in true 'Bellingham' style in the moments following the title, Rafael Jódar spoke to the media with overflowing happiness for having clinched the US Open Junior 2024.

- "All the work of my whole life has been proven here"

Still on cloud nine, Jódar was asked to assess his exciting feat: "I am very happy, as if I were dreaming right now. It has been a real battle, it has been a pleasure to play the final against Budkov Kjaer. I am very proud of myself, all the work I have been doing throughout my life has been proven here. I am very happy."

"Thanks to the people who supported me, like Harry and Javi, I was able to play my game when I needed it most, and that's why I achieved victory, just focusing on the next point. It has been the most important thing for me."

- A grueling third set

"The first set was very fast, I had to change many things, like my mentality, which I wasn't handling well in crucial points. So I just told myself that I had to believe in myself because I was in the US Open final and it was a gift for me. Fortunately, I improved in mentality and in the rest, and I was able to perform better for the rest of the match."

"I won a similar match in the quarterfinals, odds were against me, and I managed to rise up because of all the people watching the match, I kept pressing and started playing more aggressively in decisive moments."

As a conclusion, he was asked if he intended to accept the offer from the University of Virginia and continue his education, both academically and in tennis, at the prestigious American university, a matter he concluded with a smile: "Right now, I'm not thinking about that, anything can happen, I really don't know."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar, en una nube tras ganar el US Open Junior: "Es como si estuviera soñando"