Rafael Jódar reaches French Open quarterfinals

Rafael Jódar reached the French Open quarterfinals on Sunday, May 31, after coming from two sets down to beat fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta at Roland-Garros. The 19-year-old won 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen in 3 hours 41 minutes, extending his debut run in the Paris main draw. The victory put Jódar into his first Grand Slam quarterfinal and set up a meeting with Alexander Zverev in the second week of the tournament. Roland-Garros and the ATP both described it as another comeback in a breakout fortnight for the Spaniard. ### How unusual was the comeback? Roland-Garros said Jódar became the fifth man this century to reach the last eight on his main-draw debut in Paris. The tournament site said he erased Carreño Busta’s two-set lead for his second five-set win in a row. ATP Tour coverage said the result preserved Jódar’s perfect 3-0 record in fifth sets at this year’s event. (rolandgarros.com) Sunday’s match followed another five-setter in the third round. Roland-Garros said Jódar beat American Alex Michelsen on Friday, 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the fourth round for the first time. ATP Tour coverage said that match also tested the Spaniard’s resilience during his clay-court run in Europe. (rolandgarros.com) ### What did the match look like after Carreño Busta went up two sets? Pablo Carreño Busta took the first two sets 6-4, 6-4 before Jódar turned the match decisively. Roland-Garros’ match report said Jódar then won 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, with the teenager extending rallies and taking control as the match wore on. The official match page lists the final scoreline from the fourth-round men’s singles contest in Paris. (rolandgarros.com) The French Open’s highlights and match coverage identified the contest as an all-Spanish showdown. Roland-Garros also described Carreño Busta as a resurgent former top-10 player when previewing the matchup after Jódar’s third-round win. ### Why has Jódar become a story in Paris? (rolandgarros.com) Rafael Jódar is 19 and arrived in Paris for his first Roland-Garros main draw. Roland-Garros said his win over Carreño Busta pushed his clay-court record this season to 19-3. ATP Tour coverage on Monday grouped Jódar with João Fonseca among the young players who reached their first major quarterfinals on Sunday. (rolandgarros.com) ATP Tour coverage before the fourth round said Jódar had already made “thunderous waves” on the tour in recent months and was in position for another rankings jump during the tournament. That assessment came before he added the Carreño Busta win and moved into the last eight. (rolandgarros.com) ### What is next against Zverev? Alexander Zverev advanced to the quarterfinals on Sunday with a 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 win over Jesper de Jong on Court Philippe-Chatrier. ATP Tour coverage said the German reached the last eight in Paris for the sixth consecutive year and will next face Jódar. The ATP’s daily results page said Jódar and Zverev were among the men’s winners on May 31 as the tournament moved deeper into its second week. (atptour.com) Roland-Garros runs through June 7, according to the ATP’s event coverage, with the quarterfinal matchup now set in Paris. (atptour.com 1) (atptour.com 2)