Jódar surrenders to Sinner: "He is very complete and shows it in crucial moments"

Carlos Navarro | 29 Apr 2026 | 19.41

Jódar left satisfied after his defeat against Sinner in Madrid. Source: Getty

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Rafael Jódar has been the center of attention at a Mutua Madrid Open 2026 where he has showcased himself to the world as a true rising star. The media buzz around him has been unprecedented, supported by stellar performances against de Miñaur or Fonseca and a recent one against Jannik Sinner, where he showed everyone that he is more than ready to keep up with the world number one's ball pace.

However, the crucial moments and their management tilted the scale towards the Italian, who was as impressed with his opponent's level as Rafa was with his own. The Madrilenian spoke about this in a press conference: he not only highlighted how Sinner plays the key points but also praised the versatility of his tennis, in addition to revealing his upcoming tournament and reflecting on the lessons learned from an unforgettable experience at his home.

Jódar talks about Sinner's tennis and explains what makes him dangerous

- Regarding the message Sinner has conveyed, being impressed with him but asking the public and press to let him mature, take it step by step, and not burden him with pressure on his shoulders

"I agree with what he says. Ultimately, it is my first year on the circuit. There are still many tournaments this season and many seasons in the future. What I have to do is try to improve, let this be a lesson for me, for learning. As I said before, there are still tournaments on this surface, on clay, and then on other surfaces. Try to handle it as best as possible, try to keep improving in all tournaments, and knowing that everyone plays very well and that having achieved these results doesn't make me better than I really am. Ultimately, I believe that everyone and all players on this circuit play very well and have a great ambition to win. The most important thing is to keep my feet on the ground and be aware that anyone can win."

- Sinner's signature at the end of the match to the camera, where he exclaimed: "What a player!"

"Yes, well, in the end, Jannik is a great person. Much respect for him to say something like that, without a doubt."

- What lesson do you take from having faced the world number one?

"I think yes, there were moments when I was competing on equal terms and in the end, that's what I stick with. I think there is still a long way to continue improving and showing my level and enhancing that level. I stick with those positive things. I have played many matches, not just today, but I have been playing many matches here in Madrid and also in Barcelona last week. So, well, I stick with that, I will try to rest, recover well, and then onto the next tournament."

- Learning from everything experienced in this Mutua Madrid Open

"I have played four matches against very different rivals, also very tough rivals. So, I stick with that, that I had the opportunity to play four very good matches and that I have learned a lot from those four matches. And well, it has been very nice especially to play here at home, in Madrid, and I hope that these matches, I can continue playing at this level in the upcoming matches."

- Handling the weight and ball pace of Sinner and if there will be changes to his schedule soon

"Jannik is a very complete player, he shows it in matches and especially in important moments of matches. He has a lot of confidence and all his shots are very complete. But well, I had the opportunity to play with him in a match that I would say was evenly matched in many moments. Now it's time to try to analyze, as I said before, how he played his points and try to change it for the next time I play against a player like Jannik, or even for the next match. And to your second question, yes, my roadmap remains the same; if nothing unexpected happens, Rome is the next tournament."

- Managing the points and crucial moments that could have made the difference

"I tried to play better, based on how the match had been unfolding. but I think in those points, I wasn't very accurate. Or, even, I think it's more his merit, because he also played them very well. There were certain points that, truth be told, I don't remember how they went. It will be good to watch the match again and see what I could have done in those important points that ultimately decide matches."

- Has anything changed for Rafa Jódar after the last month he has experienced? How can all these new experiences shape him?

"In the end, I will continue to be the same person, beyond everything that happens to me or what has already happened to me. It's very important that I had the opportunity to play here in Madrid four matches and then a quarterfinal on the Central Court, that is very significant; I stick with that and I know that there is still a long way to go."

- How do you feel physically at this moment after playing twelve matches in the last month?

"Well, I will try to take it match by match as I have done so far. Try to recover well both now, as I won't have matches in a few days, and also when the tournament starts, try to recover day by day and face the next tournament with great eagerness and confidence in what I will do."

- What did your grandfather tell you before the match: he asked you to enjoy the game, did you succeed?

"Yes, it has been a match that I have really enjoyed. I knew that was the priority, not only in this match but in the matches I have played here in Madrid and in all the tournaments I have played so far. So I will try not to change that."

- Were you surprised by your level here, defeating a top-10 player and Fonseca and challenging Sinner?

"Well, as I always say, I take each match as it comes. The first match was also very difficult, and I think that also helped me to adapt a bit to the court conditions here in Madrid, which were different from what I was playing last week in Barcelona. I have been taking it match by match and very pleased with the experiences I have had this week. I hold onto the good moments, but I have also learned from the bad ones."

- If someone tells you about being part of a future Big Four with Alcaraz, Sinner, and Fonseca... what do you say?

"Well, the future will tell. In the end, both Carlos and Jannik, are two great players who have shown that they have a high level in all tournaments, that they have maximum consistency, I would say. We, both Joao and I, are still young players who have a lot to learn, who have a lot to improve if one day we want to reach that level."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar se rinde a Sinner: "Es muy completo y lo demuestra en los momentos importantes"