Medvedev comments on Jódar and his evolution in record time

Pedro de Pablos | 27 Apr 2026 | 18.53

Medvedev comments on Jódar and his rapid evolution

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Daniil Medvedev is smiling again on clay courts. After his tough defeat against Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 with a score of 6-0 6-0, the Russian tennis player has rediscovered his best form at the 2026 Madrid Open, where he has already reached the round of 16. Following his victory over Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, the former world number one has praised the emergence of another young talent: Rafa Jódar.

Rafael Jódar is making headlines in the tournament after defeating Alex de Miñaur and Joao Fonseca. Since the beginning of the year, the Spanish tennis player has quickly evolved his game, progressing from playing qualifiers to being close to the top 32 that would grant him a seeding spot in major tournaments. Despite the need for patience, Medvedev has highlighted how rare it is to witness such rapid growth.

"I haven't seen much, but I watched a bit of the first set yesterday. I think it's absolutely incredible what he's doing at his age. Especially considering where he came from, as he was around 900 in the ATP ranking last year. Reaching the top 40 so quickly is very rare. He's a great talent. And then there's always the question: Will he become someone who reaches the final of every Grand Slam, or is he just a very good player? You never know, but he plays tennis incredibly and it's fun to watch," he stated.

Medvedev reveals that clay remains his least favorite surface

Regarding his performance today, Medvedev expressed his satisfaction with the level displayed following the bitter experience in Montecarlo, although he made it clear that clay is his least preferred surface. "Overall, I prefer, for many reasons, hard court or even grass, but more hard court. Still, I know I can also play well on clay, and I am happy to have been able to do so here, because I didn't in Monte Carlo. In Madrid, I'm playing very good tennis, aggressive, with a solid backhand, forehand, and serve. I'm very pleased and hope to continue this way."

In the next round, he will face the winner of the match between Adolfo Daniel Vallejo and Flavio Cobolli, about whom he also commented. "I don't know much about Vallejo, but we were hitting partners in Turin a long time ago, and I really liked how he played. It's fun to see him grow on the tour. As for Flavio, he and I know each other very well. He can play very well, and he probably prefers clay over other surfaces. Here, he can hit the ball with more topspin. I'm very happy and will enjoy watching his match, to then prepare for whomever wins," he concluded.

It's always good to see a player as charismatic as Medvedev back at a high level, equally enjoyable to hear him speak so highly about the new great hope of Spanish tennis. Initially, Daniil may not be the favorite in any of the remaining major tournaments on the clay court circuit, but on a good day, he can trouble anyone on any surface. Moreover, with the premature exits of some top seeds in this tournament, it's a golden opportunity for him to achieve a good result.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev opina sobre Jódar y su evolución en tiempo récord