Daniil Medvedev has given his verdict on Spanish teenage sensation Rafael Jodar.
Jodar was ranked outside the top 900 last year, but he is now on the brink of making his top 30 debut.
The 19-year-old has continued his impressive rise in Madrid, where Jodar has beaten Joao Fonseca and Alex de Minaur to reach the last-16 stage.
Jodar has already been compared to Carlos Alcaraz, and while Medvedev is also impressed by him, he has raised one question about the local talent in Madrid.
Daniil Medvedev unsure of just how good Rafael Jodar is yet
Medvedev, who lost 6-0, 6-0 at the Monte Carlo Masters, is also into the fourth round of the Madrid Open and was asked about Jodar when speaking to media after his latest victory.
The former world number one called what Jodar has done over the past year ‘unreal’, but Medvedev claimed that it was still unclear just how good he is yet.
“I haven’t seen a lot, but I saw a bit yesterday; the first set, and some highlights, of course,” Medvedev said when asked if he had seen Jodar.
“I think it’s absolutely unreal what he’s doing for his age. Especially, not only now beating all these guys, but from where he’s coming, like 900 last year, and to go into the top 40, it’s very rare that people do it. So I think huge talent.
“Then it always becomes a question of, do you become someone who is like in final in every Grand Slam, which we can know some guys like this now or before; or is he just a very good player. And this is, you know, you never know, but he’s playing unbelievable tennis, and he’s fun to watch.”
Where do you think Rafael Jodar will be ranked at the end of 2026?
Could Daniil Medvedev play Rafael Jodar at the Madrid Open?
Medvedev has never actually played Jodar before, and it would be a big surprise if they were to face each other at the Madrid Open.
Being on opposite sides of the draw, Medvedev and Jodar would both need to reach the final if they were to face each other.
Medvedev has never been past the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open before, while Jodar is making his debut at his home Masters 1000 tournament.
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Jodar now has a big opportunity to reach his first ATP 1000 quarterfinal, as he now faces world number 66 Vit Kopriva.
While Medvedev will take on Flavio Cobolli, who he has won both of his two previous meetings against.
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