Rafael Jodar has made it to the French Open quarterfinals. And — even in his first-ever appearance at this tournament — that is exactly what he was expected to do.
Amidst huge expectations based on his own form this spring and a favorable draw in Paris, Jodar successfully punched his ticket to the last eight by beating fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday afternoon. The 19-year-old prevailed in his second consecutive five-setter (previously defeated Alex Michelsen) after three hours and 41 minutes.
Jodar came out flat against a much more experienced opponent who has already played in two Roland Garros quarterfinals. It briefly looked like Carreno Busta would book a surprising spot in another, but the 34-year-old could not sustain the kind of performance that had been on display throughout the first two sets. As Carreno Busta’s level declined, Jodar’s soared. Not a moment too soon, the world No. 29 found the game that carried him to his first ATP title in Marrakech and to back-to-back Masters 1000 quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome.
Three dominant sets in succession propelled Jodar into a Tuesday showdown against Alexander Zverev, who cruised past Jesper de Jong 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1.
“I’m trying to enjoy the moment,” Jodar assured. “I was talking to my friends and to my family before the match, it’s a gift to play a fourth round in a French Open. So my goal was to enjoy (it). Obviously you always want to win and to give your best tennis, and that’s what I did. I think I did a great job accepting the things [that] came to me today.
“Pablo was playing a great level of tennis in the first two sets, and I accepted it. Then I had my chance, and I think I raised my level in the next three sets. So (I’m) very happy with how the week is going — and the season, as well.”
The former University of Virginia star is the fourth Spanish teenager to reach the French Open quarterfinals, joining Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Albert Costa. Nadal lifted the trophy on his first trip to Roland Garros (2005), a feat that Jodar still has a chance of accomplishing.
“I think he’s amazing,” Zverev said of his upcoming opponent. “He was outside (the) top 100 at the start of the clay-court season, something like that? Close to it? And now he’s top 20 after this week? Yeah, he deserves a lot of credit. He’s playing amazing tennis. Yeah, I’m looking forward to our first meeting — which is going to be hopefully an entertaining one.”
nice one, Rafa