Daniil Medvedev has shared his thoughts on Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old from Spain who is quickly becoming one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Jodar was ranked outside the top 900 last year, but he’s now on the verge of a top-30 breakthrough after an incredible run of form.
He’s carried that momentum into Madrid as well, beating both Joao Fonseca and Alex de Minaur to secure a spot in the last 16.
Comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz have already started, and while Medvedev is clearly impressed by what he’s seen, he did raise one point about playing in front of a home crowd.
Following his latest win at the Madrid Open, Daniil Medvedev, who recently lost 6-0, 6-0 at the Monte Carlo Masters, was asked about Jodar’s recent rise in the tennis world.
While praising Jodar’s accomplishments over the last year as “unreal,” Medvedev noted that it’s still early to tell just how far the young player can go.
“I haven’t seen a lot, but I saw a bit yesterday; the first set, and some highlights, of course,” Medvedev said when asked if he had seen Jodar.
“I think it’s absolutely unreal what he’s doing for his age. Especially, not only now beating all these guys, but from where he’s coming from like 900 last year and to go into the top 40 – it’s very rare that people do it. So I think huge talent.
“Then it always becomes a question of whether you become someone who is in every Grand Slam final – which we know some guys are now or have been before – or if you’re just a very good player. And this is something you never really know. But right now he’s playing unbelievable tennis and he’s fun to watch.”
Medvedev and Jodar have never played each other, and it would be a major surprise if their first meeting came in Madrid this week.
The only way they could meet is if both reach the final, as they’re on opposite sides of the draw. But that’s still a long way off, with plenty of matches to be played before then.
Medvedev has never been past the quarter-finals in Madrid, while Jodar is playing his first Masters 1000 event in front of his home fans.
Jodar has a real chance to make his first ATP 1000 quarter-final when he faces world No. 66 Vit Kopriva next.
As for Medvedev, he’ll play Flavio Cobolli—a player he’s beaten in both of their previous encounters.
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