ATP Denis Shapovalov Rafael Jódar ATP Cincinnati 2026

Shapovalov, before his match with Jódar: "I am feeling good on the court"

Andrés Tomás Rico - 14 Aug 2026
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Shapovalov, before his match with Jódar: "I am feeling good on the court." Photo: Getty Images

Rafa Jódar already knows who his first opponent will be in the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. After his final in Washington and semifinal in Montreal, the Madrid native has no time to rest or to digest that he is now the number eleven in the world. In fact, he won't be able to relax in his debut in Ohio because he will face the always tricky Denis Shapovalov.

The Canadian redeemed himself from his performance in Montreal by defeating Adrian Mannarino, the quarterfinalist from the previous edition, in the first round with a score of 6-1, 6-3. The 27-year-old tennis player is in great form and enjoying this North American hard court swing where he managed to reach the final of the ATP 250 Los Cabos.

Denis Shapovalov is pleased with his debut in Cincinnati before playing against Jódar

Therefore, in his post-match interview after his victory, he spoke about his current condition: "It's amazing to be back on the court and feel good with my ankle. It has definitely been a frustrating year in terms of how my body has felt. But the game has been there. I have been playing well."

"Obviously, Los Cabos was a great week. In the end, I ran out of energy in the final and some issues popped up. After that, I had a quick tournament change with Montreal. I probably shouldn't have played that tournament considering how my body was, but I tried to do my best for the home fans," he lamented.

And before thinking about the match with the Spaniard, he expressed his appreciation for the conditions of the court in Cincinnati, which are faster than in Montreal: "I feel good on court, so I'm very happy. The conditions are very different. Here they are much faster than in Montreal. I prefer the fast conditions, so for me, the adjustment is easier this way," warned a Denis Shapovalov who will be the first opponent of Rafa Jódar in the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shapovalov, antes de su duelo con Jódar: "Me estoy sintiendo bien en pista"