Jódar: "Seeing so many people who enjoy my tennis is what ends up filling me up"

Carlos Navarro | 24 Apr 2026 | 23.24

Jódar talked about Alcaraz's absence at Roland Garros. Source: Getty

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Rafa Jódar continues to impress and break down walls at a dizzying speed. His latest victim was a Alex de Miñaur desperate against the Madrid native's booming shots, unable to steal control of the game, futile against Rafa's festival of precise shots down the lines and parallel backhands. It's not just any triumph: beyond placing him in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open 2026, it marks the first victory of his career against a top-10 player, another milestone in a progression that is awe-inspiring.

Anyone could get carried away, start to believe too much, but not even after such a special performance is there a hint of arrogance in Jódar's words. In the press conference, after a triumphant night, the Leganés native didn't deviate from the script, noting that the match was tougher than the scoreboard indicates and already focusing on his generational matchup against Joao Fonseca. Nevertheless, he also took the time to wish a speedy recovery to Carlos Alcaraz... and to confess that he didn't know that Jannik Sinner was watching his match from one of the Manolo Santana's boxes.

Jódar and a curious confession: didn't know that Sinner was watching him

- Preview of a great match against Joao Fonseca

"Joao is a tough opponent. Now it's about trying to prepare well, try to play my game, and be ready in case things don't go as well as today. To try to remain strong in those moments, and hopefully, everything goes just like today against Miñaur."

- About envisioning a dizzying progression and being surprised by everything achieved at this stage

"I know everything is happening very fast, yes. I'm playing many tournaments, many matches. Thanks to the results, I'm progressing considerably every week, which allows me to play against many high-level players; that helps me improve my game. When you play against these types of players, who are the best in the world, is when you elevate your level. I'm enjoying it a lot. My goal today was to enjoy. I knew that not every day you play against a rival like Alex, who has performed so well over all these years, on the Center Court, with so many people who came to see and support me. I have to keep trying to enjoy the moment."

- About his current relationship with his father and the possibility of new faces in his box soon, since Ángel Cotorro was also there today

"So far, it's going very well. We have a very good relationship. He knows me very well because he has been with me since I was very young. I believe that connection helps us a lot in facing matches in the best possible way. When things are not going so well, as I said before, to try to find a solution. Seeing him there, in the box, always gives me extra confidence. As for Ángel's presence, well, if something happens to me, he is there. Let's hope he doesn't have to act (laughs). For now, it's my father and him if there is an emergency."

- About feeling the pressure of playing on the renowned Manolo Santana court, facing a top-10 player

"I knew I had to enjoy it, that if I had to make a shot like that, I had to go for it. In the end, it was a very tough opponent; I knew he would make things very difficult. It was a very tough match, even if the result doesn't reflect it. It was a very tough match, with key moments that ultimately leaned in my favor. I think that's what decided how the match ended. But, as I said, very happy. Having so many unknown people come to watch me motivates me a lot, and I am very grateful that they come to support me."

- About whether he had time to savor everything happening when things are moving so fast

"I'm trying to enjoy. It's very nice to play on a court, the Manolo Santana, practically full, with many people who came to see me. I enjoy that, and if things go well as they did today, even better. But yes, my goal is always to enjoy, and when I see so many people enjoying watching me, that's what fills me up in the end."

- About Alcaraz's absence in Rome and Sinner's presence watching his match from one of the Manolo Santana's boxes

"First of all, I wish Carlos a prompt recovery. I hope the wrist issues are not too serious; I know he will miss these next two tournaments, but well, I hope he will be back on the courts soon. As for the second part, I didn't know he was watching the match. In the end, I try to focus more on myself and the opponent in front of me."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar: "Ver a tanta gente que disfruta con mi tenis es lo que acaba llenándome"