French Open: Can Rafael Jodar develop into the star attraction at Roland-Garros within the absence of Carlos Alcaraz?

‘What a participant!’ wrote Jannik Sinner on the TV digital camera lens after beating Rafael Jodar on the Marid Open. So can the 19-year-old Spaniard develop into the star attraction on the French Open within the absence of fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz.

Jodar was ranked exterior the highest 900 within the rankings round a yr in the past and nonetheless enjoying faculty tennis on the College of Virginia.

Since then, he has surged up the rankings, profitable three ATP Challenger titles in 2025 and incomes tour-level wins on the Australian Open, Miami, Acapulco, Dallas and Delray Seashore in 2026.

The Spaniard, who received the 2024 US Open boys’ singles title, has rapidly develop into one of many largest stars, and there are a number of causes behind his success together with improved serving, and extra impressively, the teenager has changed into probably the greatest returners within the sport.

He began the 2026 season at No 168 within the ATP Rankings, however he cracked the highest 150 for the primary time after the Australian Open earlier than making his prime 100 breakthrough after a run to the spherical of 32 on the Miami Open.

Jodar received his maiden ATP title with victory in opposition to veteran Marco Trungelliti on the Grand Prix Hasan II in Morocco earlier than reaching the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open to climb into the highest 50 for the primary time.

Can Jodar proceed his success with simply dad in his field?

Jodar, at present ranked world No 34, is coached by his father Rafael who tends to be the one individual sitting in his field throughout matches.

Former British doubles star Colin Fleming loves the actual fact Rafael retains issues easy.

Chatting with Sky Sports activities he stated: “He’s not getting caught up in any fanfare or any hangers on. Just a small team but I wouldn’t be surprised to see his team grow slightly as he develops more in the elite level. Maybe a fitness trainer, maybe a physio. But he looks like someone who is going to keep it simple and I like that.”

Marion Bartoli want to see the teen add a health coach to his workforce.

The previous Wimbledon champion stated: “There are so many resources for a player but access to fitness and physio coaches as well as tennis coach, mental coach, data analyst coach. Sometimes you have boxes of eight to 10 people but having just his dad in his box is working for him.

“I’d advise him to herald a health coach as a result of you’ll be able to inform on the health aspect when it will get intense throughout matches, he will get slightly bit drained. The primary individual he ought to add to his workforce is a health coach.”

Talking on the Tennis Channel, four-time Grand Slam winner, Jim Courier, stated: “I like the simplicity of just having the dad in the box. No fuss and coming out and laying it down. Tennis keeps throwing some goodness at us in the absence of the ‘Big Four’ and Venus and Serena past their primes. This is spectacular.

“It is virtually heart-warming to see his dad on their own on the bench, with nobody else. In a world like right now’s, the place we’re used to seeing enormous groups, seeing Jodar Sr there by himself is stunning. Clearly, with time it will change and so they’ll convey in additional professionals to assist, however my applause goes to the Jodar’s, as a result of on their very own they’ve made insane progress in simply three months.

“It’s scary to think where his ceiling might be when they start surrounding themselves with more professionals and he gets advice from more people in the tennis world.”

That match in opposition to Sinner in Madrid

In Madrid, Jodar surprised fifth seed Alex de Minaur and fellow teen Joao Fonseca to achieve the quarter-finals, however his fairy-tale run got here to an finish by the hands of world No 1 Sinner, who was filled with reward for the Spaniard.

Fleming stated: “I agree with Jannik Sinner. What a player! He is such an explosive player and just 19 years of age but he’s got a big game.

“He is received numerous energy and that makes me actually optimistic about his future. I believe as he develops and he will get extra skilled, he is a participant that may go proper to the highest within the sport.”

“I believed he performed an excellent match in opposition to Sinner in Madrid,” said Bartoli. “The tempo he was able to producing on that backhand aspect when he may maintain the cross-court after which go down the road, which is so exhausting to do in opposition to Sinner as a result of he has the aptitude to make you go into that backhand nook and expose the down the road.

“The way he was able to redirect that backhand down the line was extraordinary and the way he was able to handle himself under pressure with the roof closed and playing in front of a lot of Real Madrid players, he handled himself beautifully.”

The Spanish star continued his ascent on the Italian Open, the place he is reached one other ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final. He is already inside the highest 30 heading into Roland-Garros.

What are his strengths and the place can he enhance?

The 6ft 4in Madrid native is a part of a brand new era of gamers together with Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Sinner is being lean and imply.

“His strengths are his physicality and he is very, very tall but he moves extremely well. He’s part of that new generation of players that are very lean, very tall but can move extremely well, that are very good athletes,” stated Bartoli.

“He’s never rushing the point which is very interesting. he’s looking to take the ball early but you can never feel that he’s overplaying and that’s why he’s been able to beat so many very good players already.

“The small half he can probably enhance and he’ll sit up for doing that which is with the ability to maintain the tempo slightly bit longer. When he performed in opposition to Arthur Fils in Barcelona he ran a bit out of steam after profitable the primary set so we will see. I am certain he’ll take a look at that knowledge and take a look at the place he can enhance as all of the gamers are doing however for a 19-year-old he’s a really, superb prospect.”

How far can Jodar go?

“It’s exciting for me how high his ceiling might be,” stated Fleming. “I think certainly into the top 10 because he’s capable of mixing it with the top players in the game. Very hard without a crystal ball to say he’s going to be world No 1 and win a Slam but I think he’s capable of doing that.”

Bartoli: “I think we will see him in the top 10 very quickly. In two years time he can reach that range between seven and 10 in the world.”

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