Rafael Jodar is ready for a blockbuster showdown with Joao Fonseca after the Spaniard demolished Alex De Minaur in Madrid.
A first top ten win of Jodar’s career as the wildcard demolished the world number eight 6-3 6-1 as the Spaniard’s rise continues.
After winning a first ATP title in Marrakech and breaking the world’s top 50, Jodar now has a first top ten win as he continues to impress on the biggest stages.
The Spaniard admitted that he has adapted to conditions quickly and spoke about his mentality against De Minaur, “The first match helped me a lot to adapt to the conditions in Madrid,” Jodar told the ATP website.
“I came from something very different in Barcelona. It did me good to get used to the Manolo Santana court. That doesn’t mean the next one will be any less tough; it’ll be very challenging. Tomorrow I’ll try to have a good practice day and approach Sunday’s match with the same mindset.
“Today, my aim was to enjoy myself because you don’t play against an opponent like Alex every day. In front of all the people who came to support me, I tried to savour the moment. I knew I had to enjoy myself, if I had a shot, I had to go for it. I knew things would get tough, because the score doesn’t reflect how hard the match was. In the second set, he clawed his way back, but there were key points that I managed to swing my way.
“That’s what decided the match.”
It’s been a rapid rise for Jodar who has had plenty of experiences in the big tournaments but hasn’t had many experiences against the elite players.
These experiences are only going to help Jodar as he admitted it’s these matches that help him improve as a tennis player, “Everything is happening very fast, I’m playing lots of tournaments and matches,” the Spaniard explained to the ATP website.
“That is allowing me to compete against many high-level players and improve my tennis. When you face these opponents, who are the best on Tour, that’s when you really raise your level.”
Another exciting match awaits Jodar as he takes on fellow rising star Joao Fonseca in the third round in what will be a glimpse into a potential future rivalry.
The Spaniard is ready for another big match on home soil as he will need to raise his game if he wants to reach the last 16, “Joao is a tough opponent, and I have to prepare well for this match,” Jodar stated.
“I have to play my own game and be ready in case things don’t go as well as today. I have to try to stay strong in those moments. We’ll see how it goes.”
