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Rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar continued his dream Madrid Open debut by organising a blockbuster quarter-final with world No 1 Jannik Sinner.
The 19-year-old is making an attempt to fill the void left by the injured Carlos Alcaraz and defeated Vit Kopriva 7-5 6-0 to achieve his first Masters quarter-final.
Jodar’s beautiful rise has seen the Madrid native win 12 of his final 13 matches on clay, together with a title in Marrakech and a run to the Barcelona semi-finals final week.
He was nonetheless ranked outdoors of the world’s high 200 in November however the teenager is now set to be seeded for the French Open and probably contained in the world’s high 30 by Monday.
Earlier than then, he should try to finish Sinner’s 20-match win streak at Masters occasions after the Italian defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie earlier on Tuesday.
Jodar’s match in opposition to Kopriva was given high billing in Madrid, with Sinner moved to a morning slot to accommodate him, and they’re going to take centre stage on Wednesday afternoon (3pm UK).
“Taking part in at house is all the time particular and I’m tremendous proud of how this week goes for me,” Jodar advised Sky Sports activities. “It is going to be a fantastic match. It is going to be my first time enjoying in opposition to Jannik so I hope I may give me finest degree.”
Jodar is the third Spanish teenager to achieve the Madrid quarter-finals, following Rafael Nadal’s 2005 run and Alcaraz twice reaching the last-eight as an adolescent in 2022 and 2023.
Jodar secured his first top-10 win by beating Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-1 within the second spherical on Friday, then backed that up with a 7-6 4-6 6-1 win over fellow 19-year-old Joao Fonseca.
Sinner was seen taking a court-side seat for Jodar’s win over De Minaur, the fifth seed, with the world No 1 absorbing the ambiance because the Spaniard performed in entrance of his dwelling crowd.
“It isn’t gonna be the one time we face one another,” Sinner mentioned of Jodar after his win over Norrie. “That is my feeling. It could be good if I face him earlier than greater tournaments developing, Rome and Roland Garros.
“These are distinctive circumstances right here, he’s from Madrid so he’s used to the circumstances. However on the identical time I can have good suggestions for greater tournaments developing. It’s very thrilling. He’s a giant, huge expertise.”
