Sinner praises Jódar: "He has everything one must have"

Jose Morón | 29 Apr 2026 | 19.46

Sinner praises Jódar: "He's got everything you need." Photo: Getty

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The emergence of Rafa Jódar in the world tennis scene continues to make headlines, and this afternoon at the Mutua Madrid Open, he faced one of his greatest challenges against the number one, Jannik Sinner. The Italian had to work hard to overcome the young Spanish talent, who can be very proud of his performance today against Jannik.

In a match marked by tension, atmosphere, and physical demand, Sinner managed to prevail, but he made it clear that Jódar is one of the great promises of future tennis. The Spaniard went toe-to-toe with Jannik in a significant stretch of the match, requiring Jannik to bring out his best tennis to defeat him.

In the press conference, the world number one reflected on the quality that Jódar possesses. There is no greater compliment than having the best player on the circuit speak those words about you.

Jannik Sinner's Words about Rafa Jódar

He is a player who has been achieving great results at the beginning of this season, already playing incredible tennis in Barcelona and winning in Marrakech. Here, he has reached the quarterfinals. He is already a very solid player, demonstrating why he has played tennis at such a high level.

I believe that now, especially in this tournament, the younger players have taken a step forward. We must not forget that there are also other incredible players. Everyone is improving; one must always be focused on the present moment. That is one of the reasons why I went to watch. I enjoy observing them because I know they could be my next opponents.

If He Felt Pressure

Yes, of course. I was the favorite before the match, but at the same time, you have to manage that pressure very well. I felt that the atmosphere was very engaged, supporting Rafa, but at the same time, it was very, very intense. That's something I appreciate about the crowd. We expected a good match, and it was. When you are part of a good duel, you always have that feeling, and at the same time, I felt some tension, but after, it was a good match. I had a bit more experience than him in crucial moments.

What He Said to Jódar at the Net

I told him that I wish him the best for the season, to keep working, to keep improving, and that's all.

Level of Fatigue He Has Accumulated

I have played a lot in the last few months. It has been two and a half months where I haven't had many days off, but at the same time, I try to demand the most from myself to see what I can achieve. It will never be easy, but I think I am in a good position, yet I still have a lot to improve. Every day is different; every day you feel differently: sometimes you have pain, sometimes you are tired, nervous, feel pressure... all of that is normal. I try to manage it positively and try to eat well.

If He Thought Rafa Could Beat Him

I always have that doubt whether I could lose. You know the match can change very quickly. If something breaks in a second, there could be a third set, something I tried to avoid today. The roof was closed, the conditions were different, it was colder, it became more physical. To try to avoid going to a third set, I made a good adjustment, moving closer to the return position, which gave me a different perspective. Maybe I should have done it earlier, but it's always easier to talk after the match.

If Rafa Could Be One of the Contenders with Him and Alcaraz in the Future

I don't know; I can't predict the future. Everyone has incredible talent, but being an athlete always comes with a lot of pressure. My advice is always to avoid pressure as much as possible. I know there will always be many words on and off the court, but at the end of the day, the player must move forward. What he is doing is incredible; I wish him the best, but at the same time, you shouldn't push too hard because sometimes it gets into your head and it's very difficult to get rid of. He's a good guy, has a good family behind him, his father is very humble, he has a good bubble that is very beneficial for him. I think he will have incredible results in the future. There will always be other younger players in a couple of years, as usual, but he has everything he needs.

If What Rafa Has Done in This Tournament Can Be Compared to What Carlitos Did in 2022 Beating Djokovic and Nadal

I think I'm a bit different from Nole. When I played against Nole, he had already won many Grand Slams, been the world number one for many years, the same with Rafa. I repeat, I can't compare myself to them. I feel that playing against me is a bit different. I am not a player outside the top; I am in a very high position, but in another sense, the way Rafa managed the match today was very strong. He has everything it takes to be a great player.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner alaba a Jódar: "Tiene todo lo que hay que tener"