Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Thursday, 28 May 2026, 16:29 / Updated on Thursday, 28 May 2026 16:30
Spanish Rafael Jodar (19 years old, ranked 29th ATP) advanced to the 3rd round at Roland Garros after 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5 against Australian James Duckworth (34 years old, number 82 ATP), having a remarkable record on clay in 2026: 17 wins and 3 losses, superior to those of Nadal, Djokovic or Federer in the first 20 matches played.
Rafa Jodar is in his first year on the pro circuit, making his debut at the Australian Open where he qualified and reached the second round of the main draw. He started the season ranked 150th in the world, then continued to collect points and climb the rankings.
The real explosion in his game and results, however, came when he hit the clay – directly with his first ATP title, in the ATP 250 tournament in Marrakech. He followed it up with semi-finals in Barcelona, quarter-finals in Madrid and Rome, and is now in the third round at Roland Garros from the height of world No. 29.
On clay he won 17 matches and lost only 3 in 2026, and the only one who debuted more spectacularly than him in the Open era was Andy Roddickwho had an 18-2 record.
Record in first 20 clay matches in the Open era
- Andy Roddick » 18-2
- Rafael Jodar » 17-3
- Rafael Nadal » 13-7
- Carlos Alcaraz » 13-7
- Novak Djokovic » 10-10
- Roger Federer » 6-14
Jodar, the 27th seed at Roland Garros, is only the fifth teenager to reach the third round at Roland Garros this decade, after Jannik Sinner (2020), Carlos Alcaraz (2021-2022), Holger Rune (2022) and João Fonseca (2025).
Rafael Jodar: “Every week I play is a new chapter”
Rafael Jodar in action at Roland Garros 2026 Photo: Guliver/GettyImages
Last year, at the same time, Rafael was playing in a challenger tournament in Little Rock (USA), losing in the first round to the Canadian Liam Draxl, world number 146. Jodar was on 707, which confirms the fantastic leap he made in 12 months.
“We've played a lot of games this year,” he said after the Duckworth game in his press conference. “I think I've grown as a player and this match gives me confidence,” he added, referring to the win over the Australian.
“It's been a great year for me so far. I enjoy every tournament and every week I play is a new chapter. I look at it as a learning year because I can improve a lot. I can do better things in the future, but always with the same mentality, that I can grow in every match and competition“, he assured.
These milestones he's hitting, the increased attention, how is he handling the new situation he's in? “I try, first and foremost, to enjoy, to enjoy. I think that's the most important thing when you play a Grand Slam tournament. Many people come to see the matches. Many applaud and support both players, that's why these contests are special. So everything is good,” emphasized Rafael.
For a place in the round of 16, he will face the American for the first time in his career Alex Michaelsen (21 years old, 42nd place ATP), the one who passed the compatriot Nishesh Basavareddy (21, world no. 148), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
