Jódar: "It doesn't surprise me that Nadal did well at Wimbledon"

Pedro de Pablos | 29 Jun 2026 | 16.10

Jódar: "It doesn't surprise me that Nadal did well at Wimbledon". Source: Getty Images

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Rafa Jódar made his debut at Wimbledon 2026 with a great victory over Felix Gill. The weeks of hiatus due to an abdominal injury are now behind him, as the Spanish tennis player has shown that he is in great shape. Additionally, he took the time to praise Rafa Nadal when asked in a press conference if he sees himself capable of going as far as Nadal on this surface.

It is worth noting that since his junior days, Jódar had not played a single match on grass throughout his professional career. While he has been having a great year, the reality is that he is a rookie on this surface. Nonetheless, he tackled his debut in a tournament as significant as Wimbledon with high marks, proving that his tennis skills transcend grass, clay, or hard courts. Jódar is versatile.

Jódar reflects on his first professional grass court match

Match against Gill

Yes, it was a tough match. Felix played very well throughout, so I had to pay attention to every detail since last night. I knew I was playing first today, so I went to bed early to rest. I started the morning well with a good warm-up, with some time, which always helps. In the match, I felt great, and I followed yesterday's routine very well today.

Debut on grass

This surface is a bit different from the other two. You need to be more attentive to every detail because everything happens very fast, and if you don't serve well in a game, then recovering the break is difficult, but I think I managed the situations of today's match very well, so I'm happy.

Following Nadal's path and performing well on grass

Rafa has been great on all surfaces, so it doesn't surprise me that he did well here. All Spaniards perform well. Most excel on clay, but I believe nowadays you need to adapt very well to all surfaces. Three weeks ago, I was playing at Roland Garros on clay, and then you have to switch your mindset and play on grass the following week. You need to adapt as quickly as possible; that's every player's goal.

Jódar reveals what he learned from his time in college tennis

Well, that year in college helped me a lot to mature and develop as a player. I learned a lot and played many matches. I had a lot of confidence facing them. Obviously, the team helped me a lot to adapt to the culture and customs there. I am very grateful for that period, for that year I spent at UVA, and I still keep in touch with some players, with most of them, and also with the coach. It was a really good year for me. All my teammates are good friends, we had a good year together at UVA, did many things together. So, yes, we have a good relationship, and I hope they can also come to some of the matches.

First match at Wimbledon since the junior category

I played here two years ago in the junior category, and I believe that helped me a lot to, let's say, get used to the grass. But I think now it's a completely different story, where all professionals play better. It was a great experience to play in the junior category here, to get accustomed to the tournament, to know where everything is, how the transition works. That year was very good in junior, and I have very good memories of that time.

Support from friends in the stands

It's great to have good friends from my hometown, Madrid, in the stands enjoying the match. I used to train with them when I was younger, and even now that I'm in Madrid, I keep training with them. So, it's great to have had the chance to invite them and see them in the stands cheering me on; I'm very grateful. Seeing them happy makes me happy too.

Evolution in the last year

It is true that everything has happened very quickly, but I know that each tournament is different. You have to focus on each match because coming and performing well doesn't mean you'll do well here. You simply have to take it match by match, accepting the situations that arise. For example, today there were some situations in the second set, at the end of the second set and in the third set, at the beginning, where I had to be mentally strong. And I did great. But yes, I go week by week and step by step.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar: "No me sorprende que a Nadal le fuese bien en Wimbledon"

ATP