Jódar: "My DNA as a tennis player is to fight for every ball and never give up"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 30 Jul 2026 | 08.13

Rafael Jódar asserts himself in Washington. Photo: gettyimages

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Rafael Jódar continues taking giant steps at the ATP 500 Washington 2026, where he is already in the quarterfinals after a remarkable victory against Kei Nishikori. The Spaniard, number 24 in the ATP rankings, delivered a performance of great strength and will seek a spot in the semifinals against Lorenzo Musetti aiming to break into the top 20 in the world rankings for the first time.

Each passing week seems to provide a new reason to appreciate the speed at which Rafael Jódar is evolving. In just a few months, the Spaniard has adjusted to competing with the best, demonstrating on clay that he could reach decisive rounds and now transitioning that performance to hard courts. His display against Nishikori was particularly convincing due to the maturity shown in crucial moments and his ability to impose his game on a vastly experienced opponent.

Jódar serves and returns flawlessly against Nishikori

The numbers illustrate the authority with which Jódar resolved the match. The Madrid native faced three break points and saved all three, maintaining his serve throughout the encounter. Even more impressive was his effectiveness when opportunities arose on the return: he created three break chances and converted all of them.

A perfect performance in crucial situations that reflects the competitive maturity he is gaining. Jódar managed to deal with some initial errors, adjust his game during the match, and ultimately impose his style against one of the most important players of the last decades.

"I think he won the point three times!" 🤯

Rafael Jodar refused to lose this point #MubadalaDCOpen pic.com/ITI3iTS4qn
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 30, 2026

"Kei is one of the greatest players of all time. He has won many titles. It's a pleasure to play against a legend like Kei. I knew I had to play my way. I think I did a great job correcting some mistakes I made at the beginning of the match, so I'm very happy," stated Jódar after his victory.

Respect towards Nishikori did not prevent the Spaniard from approaching the match with ambition. Far from being intimidated by his opponent's credentials, he took the initiative and proved that his game could also thrive on a hard court, where he has time and conditions to exploit his power.

Six ATP quarterfinals since April and the first away from clay

There is a fact that perfectly encapsulates Jódar's surge in recent months. The Spaniard has already reached six ATP quarterfinals, all of which have come since April.

Until Washington, however, there was a common denominator: all those quarterfinals occurred on clay. It was precisely on that surface where he clinched his first ATP title a few months ago in Marrakech, starting the climb that has propelled him to the 24th spot in the world rankings.

Hence, what transpired in Washington holds additional significance. These are his first ATP quarterfinals on hard courts, a noteworthy achievement for a player aiming to compete throughout the season and well-versed in the American conditions due to his previous experience in the NCAA.

"My DNA is to fight until the end, give my all on the court, and never give up. I trained hard in the off-season to achieve this level of performance," explained the Spaniard, underlining the significant physical and tennis work behind his sudden breakthrough.

Jódar, the youngest quarterfinalist in Washington since De Miñaur in 2018

The historical dimension of his performance is not to be understated. Jódar has become the youngest quarterfinalist in the tournament since Alex de Miñaur in 2018, and the youngest Spanish player to reach this stage in Washington in the 21st century at least.

Spanish presence in the later stages of this tournament has been scarce. Since the beginning of this century, only Alex Corretja, Fernando Verdasco, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina had managed to reach at least the quarterfinals. Corretja did so in 2002, Verdasco in 2010 and 2011, and Davidovich in 2025.

One must look further back to find the greatest Spanish success in the US capital. Corretja remains the sole Spanish champion of Washington, following the title he secured in 2000. Jódar now has the opportunity to edge closer to those achievements and, more importantly, to confirm that his rise is not confined to a specific surface. What started as an exceptional spring on clay is now taking on a much broader scope.

Top-20 within reach: Musetti, the next big challenge

The upcoming match carries a significant prize. Lorenzo Musetti stands in Jódar's path, and a victory against the Italian, aside from securing the Spaniard's first ATP 500 semifinal berth, would propel him into the top-20 of the ATP rankings.

It would mark another giant leap for a player currently ranked 24th, whose progression in recent months has been meteoric. Washington posed a particularly intriguing test to see if he could transfer all he had built on clay to hard courts, and so far, the answer has been resoundingly positive.

"I know Musetti is a great player and that I'll have to give my best if I want to win," acknowledged Jódar, aware that the challenge will significantly intensify in the quarterfinals.

Lorenzo Musetti will pose very different challenges from those of Nishikori, forcing the Spaniard to maintain his extraordinary efficiency in crucial moments. Yet, Jódar enters this next match strengthened by a performance where he held his serve, capitalized on all his break opportunities, and once again displayed a competitive prowess despite his limited experience on the circuit.

Washington already represents a new milestone in his season. First ATP quarterfinals on hard courts, six since April, a record of precocity in the tournament, and the top-20 within one victory. Against Musetti, he will have the chance to show that there is yet another level to climb this week. Rafael Jódar has much to say in this phase of the season and could be a significant factor heading into the US Open 2026.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar: "Mi ADN como tenista es luchar cada bola y no rendirme jamás"

Rafael Jódar