Rafael Jodar added another impressive chapter to his breakthrough season on the ATP Tour in round two of the Madrid Open.
In a shocking upset victory, Jodar defeated fifth seed Alex de Minaur in straight sets, handing the Australian a heavy 6-3, 3-1 loss.
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The Spanish teenager’s triumph follows his announcement to the tennis world at the Barcelona Open, where he made the semifinals.
Jodar, 19, is quickly establishing himself as one of the best young players in the game and will take on Joao Fonseca in the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
With his victory, the home hope in Madrid has just achieved something only four others in history have managed.
Rafael Jodar makes history in round two of the Madrid Open
Jodar’s win over world number eight De Minaur was the first victory he has picked up against a top ten player in his career.
According to Opta Ace, since the inception of the event in 2002, Jodar is now the fifth teenager to claim a top 10 win at the Madrid Open.
He joins Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik in the list of players to achieve the feat.
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Jodar is currently ranked 42nd in the world, but in the live rankings he has moved up six places to number 36.
He has never faced his next opponent, Fonseca, at a tour-level event before, with the two now set to compete for a place in the fourth round of the Madrid Open.
Rafael Jodar’s difficult draw at the Madrid Open
Though he will be riding a huge wave of momentum, Jodar’s path to a maiden ATP Masters final is very tough.
He will have to face Fonseca next, and should he come through the test against the Brazilian, Jodar may have to battle past Shanghai Masters finalist Arthur Rinderknech.
But the biggest challenge will be his quarterfinal opponent, which is likely to be world number one Jannik Sinner, who is chasing history in Madrid.
The Italian is looking to clinch a fifth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 crown, and will have a great chance to do so without Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic featuring at the tournament.
Jodar has never faced Sinner before on the ATP Tour, and could finally meet him should he continue his superb form.
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