Jódar: "I Learn a Lot from Matches Like This"

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Rafael Jódar continues to take giant steps at Roland Garros 2026. The young Spaniard advanced to the round of 16 after overcoming a grueling five-set battle and confirmed that, in addition to talent, he possesses a competitive capacity uncommon for his age. After the match, Jódar spoke about the comeback, the accumulated physical wear, and his tennis role models.

Far from being carried away by euphoria, Rafael Jódar emphasized several times that his sole objective remains to focus on the next match. He also explained how he managed to arrive physically prepared at Roland Garros 2026 despite the series of tournaments and acknowledged that these types of matches are helping him grow as a player much more than any training sessions.

A comeback that demonstrates his mental strength

"It was a very tough match. He played at an incredible level throughout the entire encounter, and I had to bring out my best game to get through this round. He deserves a lot of credit because he played spectacular tennis."

"I knew I was playing very well at the end of the second set and especially at the beginning of the third. When I lost that set, I understood that the match was still very long. I knew that if I continued to give my all, I would have chances, and that was my mentality throughout the fourth and fifth set. The match doesn't end until the last point is played, and I believe that mindset was one of the keys to turning it around."

Praise, expectations, and his refusal to look beyond

"My mentality is always to take it one match at a time. Today, I could easily have lost if I hadn't won the fourth set or even the fifth. Now, the important thing is to recover well because the next match will once again be very demanding."

"I'm not thinking beyond the next round. I try to focus solely on what's in front of me. The first priority is to recover physically, and then to prepare for the next match because I know it will be another big challenge."

What he learned from his first five-set match

"I learn a lot from a match like this. I had never been in a similar situation in my career before. There were even moments when I was far behind on the scoreboard and had to find solutions."

"I appreciate all the effort and everything I left on the court. Not only in the fourth and fifth sets but throughout the entire match. It was a very tough battle, and now it's also time to analyze the less positive aspects to continue improving."

"It's important to have overcome a match like this, but honestly, even if I had lost, I would have still taken away all the effort and everything I put out on the court."

The physical preparation that enabled him to endure in Paris

"The tournaments have come very close together, and there hasn't really been much time for specific physical preparation. The week between Rome and Paris, I was able to train very well and make good progress."

"But ultimately, where you really improve is in the matches. There are situations that you can't replicate during training sessions. You can work on many things during the preseason or in a preparation week, but you will never exactly reproduce the physical and mental demands that arise during a match like this."

"That's why I consider having gone through a match like this so important. These experiences help you grow a lot as a player."

Nadal and Alcaraz, the influences on his growth

"When I was young, my great role model was Rafa Nadal. Then, in the years before turning professional, probably Carlos Alcaraz."

"Both are Spanish and have been very important influences for me as I was growing up. But I have always tried to forge my own path and develop my unique playing style. I aim to grow as a player while maintaining my own personality and competitive approach."

His thoughts on facing Pablo Carreño now

"I crossed paths with Pablo when I was a sparring partner for the Davis Cup in Valencia. He was a crucial part of that team, and I had the opportunity to share some moments with him."

"It will be a very tough match, like all at this level. I have to approach it as another opportunity to continue improving, learning, and striving to showcase my best tennis point by point."

The full explanation of the controversy with the ball girl

"When the set ended, I was heading to the bathroom as I was entitled to those five minutes. My father was going to give me some things that are part of my routine during matches, and the ball girl was right in the middle."

"What happened was that she tried to move aside and walked backward. Behind her was the tarp covering the courts, and I think she tripped over it. I was telling my father to give me those things after the break, and I never pushed her."

"I haven't seen the footage, so I understand that each person can interpret what they want from watching the video. I can only explain what I experienced. I would never touch a ball girl, let alone push her."

"I am well aware of the effort they make, especially with the heat we've been experiencing these days. I greatly appreciate all the work they do for us because they constantly assist us during matches, and I know it's also a special experience for them to be on the court. I didn't touch her with my hands or do anything of the sort. I would never do something like that."

The curious incident he encountered in his box

"During the match, I noticed some people sitting in the box. In the end, the box is reserved for the people in my team, and in my case, my team mainly consists of my father and me."

"They were probably people with seats very close by who hadn't realized. I simply reminded them that they couldn't sit there. It's not a superstition or any special quirk. The box is for those who are part of the team, and that's it."

Staying grounded despite the great moment he's going through

"What other players have achieved means nothing to me. Reaching the round of 16 doesn't guarantee that I will achieve everything they did. I try to follow my own path and focus on improving every day. Now, the important thing is to recover well and be ready for the next match."

With just a few years of experience on the professional circuit, Rafael Jódar continues to accumulate learnings at a dizzying pace at Roland Garros 2026. The Spaniard not only displayed a remarkable capacity for physical and mental endurance in overcoming a battle lasting over four hours, but also made it clear that he remains grounded despite the increasing expectations surrounding his name.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar: "Aprendo muchísimo de partidos como este"