Rafa Jódar's ambition after debuting in Paris: "I want more"

The fight of Rafa Jódar to reach the ATP Finals 2026 reaches its final episode this week at the Rolex Paris Masters. The player from Madrid, who debuted this morning with a victory over Alejandro Tabilo, showed great ambition in this final stretch of the season.

First, he had to do his homework on the court against a Tabilo who must be tired of facing the Spaniard over and over again, especially seeing the scorelines. After fulfilling the first part of the plan, Jódar then met with Tennis Channel to discuss the match and, above all, the goal he is fighting for this week. The opportunity to reach Turin is in his hands, but he is aware that the world won't end if he doesn't achieve it.

During the interview, Jódar acknowledged the satisfaction of continuing to make progress on the circuit, though he quickly wanted to focus on everything he still has ahead. "Entering the top 10 for the first time means a lot to me. It also shows that I’m doing things well, but I want more. I want to be a better player," he explained. A statement of intent that summarizes quite well the mindset with which he is approaching his breakthrough in the elite.

The Spaniard emphasized that he is aware of the aspects of his tennis that he still needs to develop. To this end, he considers it essential to maintain high standards even during weeks without competition. "I know I can improve many things in my game, and that’s very good because it means I can become a better player in the future," he added.

Jódar looks to Turin without putting pressure on himself

One of the inevitable topics of conversation was the possibility of qualifying for the ATP Finals. Paris represents the last opportunity to gain points and get closer to a tournament that just a few months ago seemed completely out of reach. However, Jódar prefers not to make that possibility an obsession.

"I am aware that this is the last tournament that counts for Turin. I try to take it match by match and accumulate as many points as I can, but if I don't achieve it, I will still be happy because the season has been very good for me," he confessed. The player from Madrid recalled that his main goal during this first year on the circuit was to compete against the best and enjoy the most important stages of world tennis.

In fact, when asked if a year ago, during his university days in Virginia, he could have imagined being so close to Turin, his response was as spontaneous as it was revealing: "Probably not." Jódar also expressed gratitude to the University of Virginia, where he has great memories and maintains contact with his former teammates and coaches. He seemed especially happy about the recent successes of several players from the team, demonstrating that he has not lost the connection with that stage.

Now it’s time for Paris; afterward, there will be time to take stock. Because one thing Rafa Jódar made clear after his debut is that reaching this point has not changed his ambition. On the contrary, it seems to have multiplied.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La ambición de Rafa Jódar tras debutar en París: "Quiero más"