Welcome to the Rafael Jódar Show

Carlos Navarro - 16 Aug 2026 | 03:25
Rafael Jódar Denis Shapovalov ATP ATP Cincinnati 2026

Miraculous comeback by the Madrilenian in his debut in Cincinnati: he was down 1-5 in the third set, had two match points against him... but he overcame a Shapovalov who faded away like a sugar cube.

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Jódar signed a historic comeback.

There are victories that are difficult to explain. You have to be there, feel them with the same intensity as the protagonists, feed off their important moments to create a connection that goes beyond the moment itself. When you overcome a 1-5 in the third set, save two match points, and bring your fingers to your ear to signal to the crowd that you are determined to continue your path despite the criticism, what you are doing is creating a following; you are telling the world that you have the makings of a legend, that you can be trusted. For all this and more, today Rafael Jódar made one of the most impressive debuts of his career at the ATP Cincinnati 2026, defeating Denis Shapovalov in a rollercoaster match that culminated with a virtual bagel (7-5, 4-6, 7-5).

3 hours and thousands of incentives. Medical timeouts, multiple dramas with shoelaces (at random moments, with Rafa not at fault, but creating enough chatter to be discussed on social media right after the match), two match points that the Madrid player bravely saved, fluctuations in confidence during play, physical issues that were resolved in time... and the confidence, set aside, of someone who plays like a veteran at just 19, evenly split between the doubts and fear of a person with unlimited talent, but wavering confidence in his game plan (even more so in important moments).

Jódar pulled off a historic comeback supported by Shapovalov's doubts

The first set unfolded like this, with the Canadian completely committed to a clear game plan: disrupt the rhythm, be lethal with the serve + 1 and find openings with his forehand. He succeeded, and not just minimally, but with a cadence and regularity that made the Madrid player realize that today’s match would be truly complicated: controlling the match earned him a break that ended up being his nightmare, as it led him to be very inconsistent with his serve, gifting double faults and, finally, two breaks that handed the first set to the Madrid player.

It was surprising, after such a clear mental collapse, that he regained composure at the start of the second set, where he stepped on the accelerator and never let off. The truth is that the match was going through his racket: his strokes flowed, his backhand held up against Jódar's forehand, and his foot speed was far superior to that of the Madrid player. The accumulated matches were weighing on a serious, consistent Rafa, but lacking the explosiveness and quickness of the Canadian when he launched his attacks. When the match moved to the third set and the mild cramps made their presence known, everything seemed ready for the sentence.

Here began a visit to a spectacle that truly defies explanation. Between changing shoes and the doctor's presence, Jódar was bleeding out and the match entered a strange dynamic, a haze from which Shapovalov could not escape. The Canadian stopped trusting his serve (only 45% of first serves in from 5-1 in the third set), displayed his nerves through his attacking actions (only a 37%! success rate in offensive situations: he rushed to the net like a headless chicken, starting to miss very easy volleys) and made it clear to Jódar that he was not entirely certain.

At that moment, of course, the Monster from Leganés saw a perfect victim. He started a comeback that ultimately won over the audience, who went from lightly booing him during one of the shoe changes to chanting 'Rafa, Rafa, Rafa' during one of the last breaks. The match had changed: now Jódar, after overcoming the physical slump, truly believed in his attacking shots, found the low balls that terrify the circuit, and, ultimately, felt that any shot from his racket would turn to gold. 

Only in this way can such a comeback be understood: through the mental aspect, from the confidence given by so many victories, from the feeling of flying through a circuit that still doesn't feel yours, like someone going out to recess and living in it, without thinking about complicated subjects. That’s how Jódar approaches each match, although he will leave Cincinnati with a great lesson (it’s more the circuit that receives it): he will never concede a game for mentally checking out. To beat Rafa you have to finish him off on the ground, because the Madrid player will always believe he has a slight chance to turn everything around... and that, my friends, is a quality that cannot be trained. Spanish school, 21st-century tennis, and magic on American soil. Welcome to the Rafael Jodar show.

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