Tsitsipas highlights the differences between Jódar's and Alcaraz's styles

Pedro de Pablos | 27 Apr 2026 | 17.25

Tsitsipas highlights the differences between the style of Jódar and that of Alcaraz.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas is rising from his ashes at the Mutua Madrid Open 2026. The Greek tennis player, who had been enduring a horrible streak of poor results, has ended Dani Mérida's dream to advance to the round of 16 in one of his best performances in recent weeks. Additionally, he praised the figure of Rafa Jódar, highlighting the differences between his game and that of Carlos Alcaraz.

Tsitsipas has had the opportunity to closely observe the new Spanish talent in this tournament, where Rafa Jódar has already reached his first Masters 1000 round of 16. Despite comparisons with Alcaraz, the Greek player made it clear that their styles are not the same. Moreover, Stefanos analyzed the fact that Jódar also has his father as his coach, emphasizing the advantages this factor can provide and explaining why having too many people in your box during a match is not beneficial.

Tsitsipas speaks about his back problems and how he now smiles while playing tennis

Match against Mérida

Mérida was a tough opponent, especially at the beginning of the match. I felt a lot of pressure from him until I gradually found my way to match his pace. A pace that high is something you never expect when starting a match. You don't know what to expect from an
opponent you haven't seen much in your career. I gradually adapted to the pace he was setting, and I think that was key. My game improved step by step, and I started to put more pressure and make better shots.

Boost in confidence and match against Ruud

My goal is to be well-prepared for tomorrow, train well, and get ready for this great match. Casper is a good player and knows how to play perfectly on this surface. However, this surface is also one of my favorites. My intention is to play well and push him to his limit, as I am sure he will be very well-prepared for this match. I feel good, and I am also feeling good, so I expect to see a good tough match. That's the goal with this match.

Praise for Rafa Jódar

He is a great talent. I will have an eye on him from now on. He has a different style from Carlos Alcaraz, being a bit taller. He reminds me a bit of a hybrid between Zverev and Carlos. He has a good serve, with more reach than Carlos because he is taller. It will be interesting in the future if he continues with the same attitude and does not lose his head along the way, he will achieve great results in his career.

The fact that Jódar also trains with his father

I saw that and liked it a lot because it shows humility. Sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to progress. I think he should keep it that way. If it works, it's great. I am not the type of player who supports having too many team members in the box during matches. There is only a limited number of people who can provide you with experience and knowledge. The coach's job is to help you perform well on the court. I love the synergy between father and son. I think it's very nice to see such things.

Losing passion for tennis and his back injury

When I got injured, I lost love and passion for tennis, but I kept on playing. Despite my back injury, I kept stepping onto the court. I am trying to give my best, but it's frustrating when you keep getting injured constantly. It always feels bad, and it doesn't make you love the game too much. Finally, I can say that going out to play now makes me very happy. There isn't much stress about whether my back will be okay. Before, that occupied my mind 24 hours a day. I didn't know if I would wake up fine the next morning, and living with that uncertainty in your day-to-day life, especially as a professional tennis player, makes it even worse.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsitsipas destaca las diferencias entre el estilo de Jódar y el de Alcaraz