Rafael Jódar becomes fifth teenager

Rafael Jódar beat Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-1 on Friday to reach the third round in Madrid and claim his first Top 10 win. (atptour.com) The ATP said Jódar, 19, is the fifth teenager since 2002 to record a Top 10 win at the Mutua Madrid Open. The others are Andy Murray, Juan Martín del Potro, Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Menšík. (atptour.com) Jódar did it in his home city against the player listed as world No. 8, and he dropped only four games on Manolo Santana Stadium. ATP said he had won 10 of his past 11 matches entering the result. (atptour.com) The win came less than three weeks after Jódar took his first ATP Tour title in Marrakech, where he beat Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 6-2 in the final. ATP said he had been outside the Top 900 a year earlier. (atptour.com) His climb accelerated again in April. ATP’s rankings coverage said Jódar moved into the Top 50 after a semifinal run in Barcelona, and the ITF profile lists his career-high singles ranking as No. 55. (atptour.com) (itftennis.com) Madrid had been waiting for him before the tournament even started. The event’s official site called him the “undisputed star” of the buildup and said the local player was drawing photographers, autograph seekers and heavy media attention at Caja Mágica. (mutuamadridopen.com) ATP said Jódar was born and raised about 12 kilometers from the tournament site, and his opening win earlier in the week matched a Madrid feat previously managed by Rafael Nadal and Alcaraz. (atptour.com) His next match is another teenage test. ATP said Jódar is scheduled to face João Fonseca on Sunday in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, second match from 8 p.m. local time. (atptour.com) For now, the Madrid result is the clearest marker yet of how fast Jódar’s season has moved: from outside the Top 900 a year ago to a home-court win over a Top 10 player on one of clay tennis’ biggest stages. (atptour.com 1) (atptour.com 2)