Rafa Jódar: "I'm just a normal 19-year-old guy, this doesn't change anything for me"

Like someone who has been in the ATP circuit all his life. This is how Rafa Jódar handled his first match in a Grand Slam main draw, with a five-set victory over Rei Sakamoto, and also how he managed his first encounter with the press after such a triumph. At 19 years old, the Madrilenian speaks with the calmness of a veteran, with rhythm and self-confidence, although he still doesn't seem to fully grasp the magnitude of what he is achieving.

Following his debut triumph at the 2026 Australian Open, the player from Leganés is already the second-best tennis player of his generation, surpassed only by Joao Fonseca; he continues a rapid climb in the ATP ranking, now standing in the top 120, and, to top it off, earns his first ticket to the second week of a Major, where he will face a Masters 1000 champion like Jakub Mensik. Despite all of this, in the press conference, Jódar was far from appearing overwhelmed; his statements reflect the faith and confidence he has in his tennis and, at times, serve as an introduction of his philosophy to the wider audience.

Rafa Jódar talks about his personality on and off the court, downplays such a special moment, and emphasizes that he has enjoyed the journey to get here

- How can a victory like this, his first in Grand Slams, change his life and goals

"It won't change me at all. It will give me confidence to face the season in the best possible way, but it doesn't alter my objective at all, which is always to improve and enjoy on a tennis court. Today, I enjoyed it a lot, there were tough moments where I had to endure, but in the end, if we take the positives, I had a great time. Playing these types of matches, whether you win or lose, although today it went my way, is valuable. I am very happy with today's victory."

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- Calling the physio in the fourth set that he eventually turned down

"I called the physio because I thought I would need it at the changeover, but in the end, that game went well, I played at a good level and gradually recovered. I didn't need the physio; I thought I would use it, but in the end, that was not the case."

- His personality on and off the court, and his mentality

"You have to try to combine both aspects in the best possible way: I am a calm person because if you don't stay calm, don't take your time between points, these matches become very long, and you can waste energy where you shouldn't; then, there are crucial moments where you have to know how to endure, how to play those moments, toughen up, there you have to bring out that fighting spirit that I have been able to show in these matches. That has helped me a lot, not only today but in the matches we've had this season."

- His journey: going to an American university, being away from the spotlight... has that allowed him to be here and make such progress

"I made a decision. There were two options, I chose one, and things have turned out well: I have been able to develop as a player and as a person in the year I spent in Virginia. The decisions I make are with the best possible intent. After my junior career, I thought the best decision was the one I ultimately made; happy to have spent this year in Virginia, I have met people I wouldn't have otherwise. I have no regrets; things are going well. That year hasn't changed anything; it has improved everything."

- Memories of the last Australian Open, watching it on TV: now he's in the second round of his first Grand Slam

"I don't remember very well; I recall watching some matches, the final rounds. At first, I was in Madrid, and by the last rounds, I was already in Virginia, it was right around when I flew there and started adapting to university life."

- Regarding the possibility of receiving invitations to major tournaments from now on and if that could alter his roadmap

"To be honest, I haven't thought about it at all. There will be time after this tournament to discuss it with my team, once I'm home and spend a few days there, then we will plan the calendar based on the tournaments I'm interested in playing. I haven't planned which tournaments I will play, so that will be decided based on what is best for my body and health. It will depend on that."

- Who is Rafa Jódar? Where does he come from?

"I'm a 19-year-old guy from Madrid, whose passion has always been playing tennis. Not just tennis, but sports in general: sports are a very healthy way to take care of your body, and I started doing sports because I thought I could have a great time. I started playing tennis, liked it a lot, and since then, I have had a great time, enjoying the whole process. From juniors, last year in Virginia... I have enjoyed every step and believe I have handled it well."

"Well, I'm a completely normal person, a 19-year-old guy for whom this doesn't change anything, who has a good time. It is true that last year, in Virginia, I matured a lot. I traveled 'alone': you're with your coaches and teammates, but you're in a different culture, so you have to mature a lot and do things on your own. I developed a lot of maturity in that process last year."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rafa Jódar: "Solo soy un chico normal de 19 años, esto no me cambia nada"