Rafa Jódar takes stock of his first Grand Slam: "I am very happy with my level"

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Five matches later, Rafa Jódar's journey in this 2026 Australian Open has come to an end. Defeated by Jakub Mensik in three sets, the Spaniard shared all that he learned from this experience.

As it was his first time at a Grand Slam, advancing through the qualifying rounds and winning a match in the main draw, you can imagine that Rafa Jódar's assessment of this 2026 Australian Open can only be positive. Another significant step in his career that will place him close to the top 100 once the tournament concludes. However, don't think that the Madrid-born player is too concerned about his ranking or whether he will directly enter the Roland Garros draw. In his post-match interview with Eurosport, two words were constantly reiterated: work and improve.

Rafa Jódar analyzes his loss against Jakub Mensik

"My evaluation of the match is a learning experience. There is still a long season ahead, but starting 2026 this way gives me a lot of confidence to keep improving and working every day. The assessment of the tournament is very positive; I played many matches against tough opponents, so I am happy with my level here, but eager for more. The focus is on continual improvement every day."

The highlights of his first Grand Slam experience

"I can't pick just one thing; these days in Australia have been wonderful. I have been able to play many matches thanks to the results I achieved, but if I had to choose one thing, it would be the level I displayed. All the work from the preseason and last season is paying off, but always knowing that there is a need to keep working and gradually improving. The process is long, as is the season, so the mindset is to strive for more."

On the road to the top 100... and Roland Garros?

"To be honest, I didn't know what ranking I would end up with by the end of the week. Regarding reaching Roland Garros, I am not setting any objectives right now. As I mentioned earlier, the focus is on learning from the things I did less well this week in Australia while also taking away the positives. From there, it's about continuous improvement; there is still ample room for growth, always with the same mindset, wanting more. Every time I step onto the court, whether in a match or practice, it's with the intention of getting a little better."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rafa Jódar hace balance de su primer Grand Slam: “Me voy muy contento con mi nivel”