Jódar is too much for Nishikori

Pedro de Pablos | 30 Jul 2026 | 03.10

Jódar is too much for Nishikori. Source: Getty Images.

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Rafa Jódar has once again delivered a great performance to reach the quarterfinals of ATP Washington 2026 after easily defeating Kei Nishikori with a score of 6-3 6-2 in just 1 hour and 9 minutes of play. In this way, the Spanish tennis player shows once again that he is one of the fittest players on the circuit, with a stellar performance against a true legend.

It is true that Nishikori is no longer the player who was firmly established in the top 10 for many years. Injuries have prevented him from bidding farewell in a dignified manner, and in his final year on the circuit, it is evident that his level is light years away from the best players in the world. This match clearly reflects a generational change in sports, as time passes for everyone equally, and it is further proof that on hard courts, Rafa is capable of beating anyone on a good day.

Jódar seizes the first break point of the match and takes the lead

Jódar indeed started much colder than Nishikori in the match, having to save two break points already in the first game. However, once the Spanish player gained confidence, his serve became a goldmine. From the baseline, the Japanese player remained solid and precise, but Rafa attacked every second serve looking for the break. The downside of the early stages of the match were Jódar's errors, and the most positive aspect was the result since he was making more mistakes than necessary against an experienced player who does not forgive.

As expected, as the match progressed, Jódar started to find his rhythm, and at 3-2, he took advantage of a disastrous service game from Nishikori to get the break on the first break point he had in the entire match. From that point on, he just needed to stay solid on his serve to maintain the lead, closing the first set with a 6-3 score that put him one step closer to the quarterfinals in Washington.

Nishikori throws in the towel, and Jódar dominates

By this point, Nishikori completely collapsed, and at the beginning of the second set, he lost his serve again after making more mistakes. Not even his trademark backhand was sharp, and gradually, things turned against him. Nevertheless, Kei had a break point in the following game, but Rafa held firm and took a 2-0 lead that seemed insurmountable.

From there, Nishikori threw in the towel, and Jódar secured another break to take control and ultimately close the match with a comfortable 6-2 victory. He went from strength to strength in the match and finished playing at a very high level. His serve and his ability to change direction with both his backhand and forehand make him a player to watch out for on this circuit, although in the next round, he will face a tough challenge against Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semifinals.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar es demasiado para Nishikori

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