Rafael Jodar is into the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time as the young Spaniard defeated Alex Michelsen 7-6 6-7 4-6 6-3 6-3 at Roland Garros.
The 18 year-old continues to shine as he battled from two sets to one down to defeat the big-serving American.
It has been an incredible clay court season for Jodar as he could have never imagined he would be seeded for a Grand Slam let alone be in the second week.
However, Jodar is into the second week and has done by winning a five set match for the first time in his career.
Speaking after the match Jodar admitted his mentality is the key and despite many people tipping him to go all the way the Spaniard is only taking things match by match, “Yeah, I mean, it was a really tough match,” Jodar admitted in his press conference.
“I knew that he was playing very well at the end of the second set and especially at the beginning of the third set. I knew that the match was still very long when I lost that third set. I knew that if I gave my best, you know, I had chances, and that’s what I did. The match is not over until you finish the last point, and that was my mentality during the fourth and the fifth set, and that was one of the reasons why I could turn around this match.
“Well, I mean, my mentality is always going by match by match. I think it was a really tough match. I could have lost today perfectly if I didn’t win the fourth or even the fifth set. My mentality is to recover well for my next match. It will be another tough match, so I have to get ready for it, try to give my best level, but all focus on the next match and not think farther than the next match.”
Many people have compared Jodar’s rise to Rafael Nadal or even Carlos Alcaraz as the Spaniard aims to be the next Grand Slam champion from the country.
However Jodar is focusing on carving out his own career and identity as he looks to block out any sort of comparisons to anyone else, “Well, I mean, as you say, I try to develop my own style, but my role model in tennis when I was younger, it was Rafael Nadal,” Jodar explained.
“Then in the last few years before I turned pro, I could say probably Carlos Alcaraz. You know, both from Spain, from the same country as me. So I think those were my two role models when I was growing up. But, as I said before, I try to follow my own path, and I try to develop as a player, you know, but with my own spirit.
“Well, I think I’m an aggressive player who likes to dominate the points, but I think here on clay, you know, you have to defend a little bit more. So I am trying to develop that game as well. I’m now trying to develop all my weak points, like, for example, the forehand, the serve, the return. I think those are things that I still have to develop. But, overall, I think I still have a margin of development huge, you know?”
Jodar will hope that development continues to grow at a rapid rate as he targets an even higher ranking then he already has.
In the fourth round Jodar will play compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta for a place in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros.
