The Madrid Open gave Rafa Jódar a standing ovation after his loss to Sinner
The ovation at the Madrid Open for Rafa Jódar after he fell to Sinner
The Masters 1000 in Rome is the last major stop before Roland Garros. Every available player heads to the Italian capital to fine-tune their form for the second Grand Slam of the year. The conditions at the Foro Italico are similar to the clay of Philippe Chatrier, unlike the fast, high-altitude courts in Madrid, which are an anomaly on the tour.
This Monday, the draw was made, with Rafa Jódar as Spain’s biggest hope. With Carlos Alcaraz still sidelined by his wrist injury, all eyes are on the Madrilenian, while Jannik Sinner remains the overwhelming favorite. Though there was some doubt about Sinner’s participation, all signs now point to the Italian playing in his home country.
Novak Djokovic will also return to competition. According to tournament officials, the Serb has already scheduled a practice session on site and will compete for the first time in two months. His last match was in early March at Indian Wells, where he lost an epic battle to Jack Draper. This is welcome news, since he, like Alcaraz, had been recovering from an injury.
On Djokovic’s side of the draw lies Rafa Jódar, who fared well in the early rounds. As a seed, he receives a first-round bye and will begin in the second round, facing either a qualifier or Portugal’s Nuno Borges. That winnable start would be followed by a third-round match against either Alex de Minaur or Jaume Munar, both of whom Jódar has beaten convincingly recently.
In the round of 16, the most likely opponents are Learner Tien, Sebastián Báez, or Alexander Bublik — solid clay players, but ones the Spaniard could handle. As expected, the quarterfinals present a much bigger challenge, likely against Alexander Zverev, who reached the Madrid final and is one of the world’s top clay-court players.
Jódar celebrates after beating De Minaur in Madrid
/ Europa Press
Even if Zverev couldn’t stand up to Jannik Sinner in Madrid, he has had a consistent season against players at or below his level. In the semifinals, the draw opens up significantly, with several strong contenders. The most notable is Novak Djokovic, but others like Lorenzo Musetti, Casper Ruud, Francisco Cerúndolo, and Jiri Lehecka will also vie for a spot in the final four.
**Sinner’s Path**
If Jódar reaches the final, his would-be opponent is Jannik Sinner. The Italian has a tricky first week, facing players such as Arthur Fils or Jakub Mensik, but his quarterfinal and semifinal paths look less demanding. Unquestionably, he is the top favorite for the title and the man to beat.
Jódar traveled to Rome on Sunday to start practicing and adapting to the tournament conditions. As a seed with a first-round bye, his debut is scheduled for Friday, May 8 or Saturday, May 9. Progressing deep into the draw is crucial for his seeding at Roland Garros, where he aims to break into the top 32 in the world.
