Ruud is amazed by Jódar: "What he is doing is impressive"

Diego Jiménez Rubio - 14 Oct 2026 | 11:17
Casper Ruud ATP Rafael Jódar Rueda de prensa ATP Shanghái 2026

The Norwegian, Rafael Jódar's next opponent in Shanghai, is full of praise for the young player from Madrid and analyzes his match in the quarter-finals.

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Casper Ruud talks about Jódar in Shanghai. Photo: gettyimages

Casper Ruud has been through a thousand battles and is aware of how dangerous Rafael Jódar will be in the clash between them in the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai 2026. He referred to this in a press conference at the Chinese tournament, speaking freely about the young player from Madrid, his next rival for a spot in the semi-finals.

Discreet, kind, and humble. Casper Ruud is one of the most appreciated players on the entire circuit, and those who have had close contact with him speak highly of a natural competitor who knows how to adapt to the rigors of time and remain in the elite. At 27 years old, he has found a good version of himself in this ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai 2026 and will try to prolong his dream of winning the title, for which he will need to defeat Rafael Jódar, whom he spoke about at length.

This is what Casper Ruud said about Rafael Jódar before facing him in Shanghai

What he expects from the match against Jódar

"We are in the same situation: we have never played against each other, so we don't really know what to expect. But we both will do our best to win. I am sure it will be a good match if we both play well."

"We were teammates in the Laver Cup and have practiced together a couple of times. He is a very nice guy, one of the youngest players on the circuit. From the outside, it has been amazing to see the season he's having, and now I have the chance to face him, so I’m excited."

"He plays fearlessly and hits powerful shots. He moves very well from the back of the court. I have trained with him once or twice, so we have a small idea of how each other plays."

"He has probably seen me play more times than I have seen him over the last few years, although I would need to ask him that. He surely has a clearer idea of my game than I do of his. I’ll need to analyze him well and prepare for a very challenging match against a young player of enormous talent."

Surprised by Jódar's season

"What Rafa has achieved is really impressive. I think he and his father have an excellent mentality. It seems to me that going to university for a year was a very smart decision because it surely helped him gain a lot of experience competing and learning to manage pressure in the matches he played representing his team and university."

After that year, he was already among the top 20 or 15 in the world and had beaten many top players. So far, he has made very good decisions throughout his career, and I am sure he will continue to improve. In the future, he will be a very tough opponent for many players. I hope to be the one who comes out victorious on Friday, although I'm sure he thinks the same. It will be a great match."

Casper Ruud is fully aware of how challenging it will be for him to face Rafael Jódar, whose ball speed and mental consistency at this ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai 2026 have been astounding. The Norwegian will try to draw on his experience and tactical intelligence to outmaneuver the young player from Madrid.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ruud alucina con Jódar: "Es impresionante lo que está haciendo"