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30 Jul 2026 | 08.13
Rafael Jódar continues to take giant steps in the ATP 500 Washington 2026, where he is already in the quarterfinals after an impressive victory against Kei Nishikori. The Spaniard, ranked 24th in the ATP, delivered a performance of enormous solidity and will seek a semifinal spot against Lorenzo Musetti, which would allow him to break into the world's top 20 for the first time.
Every passing week seems to provide a new argument to gauge the speed at which Rafael Jódar is evolving. The Spaniard needed only a few months to adapt to competing with the best, and after proving on clay that he could reach decisive rounds, he is now transferring that performance to hard courts. His performance against Nishikori was particularly convincing due to the maturity shown in crucial moments and his ability to impose his tennis on an opponent with vast experience.
Jódar delivers an impeccable serving and returning performance against Nishikori
The numbers help understand the authority with which Jódar resolved the match. The Madrid native faced three break points and saved all three, keeping his service intact throughout the match. Even more assertive was his effectiveness when opportunities arose on the return: he generated three break chances and converted all of them.
A clean sweep in the most crucial situations reflecting the competitive maturity he is acquiring. Jódar managed to deal with some initial errors, readjust his game during the match, and finish by imposing his style against one of the most significant players in recent decades.
"I think he won the point three times!" 🤯
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 30, 2026
Rafael Jodar refused to lose this point #MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/ITI3iTS4qn
"Kei is one of the best 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 am very happy," said Jódar after his victory.
Respect for Nishikori did not prevent the Spaniard from approaching the match with ambition. Far from being daunted by his opponent's resume, Jódar was able to take the initiative and demonstrate that his game can also work on a hard court where he has time and conditions to unleash his power.
Six ATP quarterfinals since April and the first outside clay courts
There is a fact that perfectly encapsulates Jódar's explosion in recent months. The Spaniard has already reached six ATP quarterfinals, all of which have come since last April.
Until Washington, however, there was a common denominator: all those quarterfinals had taken place on clay courts. It was precisely on that surface where he claimed his first ATP title a few months ago in Marrakech and where he began to build the ascent that has taken him to the 24th spot in the world.
Therefore, what happened in Washington carries additional significance. These are his first ATP quarterfinals on hard courts, a significant acknowledgment for a player aspiring to be competitive throughout the season, well-versed in the American conditions due to his prior 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 preseason to achieve this performance," explained the Spaniard, emphasizing the significant physical and tennis work behind his rapid rise.
Jódar, the youngest quarterfinalist in Washington since De Miñaur in 2018
The historical dimension of his performance is equally noteworthy. Jódar has become the youngest quarterfinalist of the tournament since Alex de Miñaur in 2018, and also the youngest Spanish player to reach this stage in Washington, at least in the 21st century.
Spanish presence in the final rounds of this tournament has been scarce. Since the start 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 go further back to find the greatest success of Spanish tennis in the American capital. Corretja remains the only Spanish champion of Washington, after the title he claimed in 2000. Jódar now has the opportunity to approach those achievements and, above all, to confirm that his breakthrough does not rely on a specific surface. What began as an exceptional spring on clay is gaining a much wider significance.
The top-20 is one victory away: Musetti, the next big challenge
The upcoming match offers a significant reward. Lorenzo Musetti stands in Jódar's path, and a victory over the Italian, besides securing the Spaniard a spot in the semifinals of an ATP 500 for the first time, would propel him into the top-20 of the ATP rankings.
It would be another immense leap for a player already at the 24th position, with his progression over the past months being rapid. Washington provided a particularly interesting test to see if he could transfer all he had built on clay to hard courts, and so far, the response has been resoundingly positive.
"I know Musetti is a great player and that I will 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 present very different challenges compared to Nishikori, pushing the Spaniard to maintain that extraordinary effectiveness in crucial moments. Yet, Jódar arrives strengthened by a performance where he did not lose his serve, converted all his break opportunities, and once again displayed a competitive capability uncharacteristic of his limited experience on the circuit.
Washington already marks 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 reach. Against Musetti, he will have the opportunity to show that there is still another level to reach this week. Rafael Jódar has a lot to contribute in this phase of the season and could be a significant factor heading into the US Open 2026.
Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Jódar: "Mi ADN como tenista es luchar cada bola y no rendirme jamás"
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30 Jul 2026 | 03:00Jódar est trop pour Nishikori -
28 Jul 2026 | 19:00Un Jódar impérial ne laisse aucune chance à Fils à Washington -
28 Jul 2026 | 23:00Eala revendique ses origines et répond à ses critiques : Est-elle surestimée?
