Jannik Sinner is into yet another Masters 1000 semi-final, but he certainly had to work for it.
After all, faced with the task of toppling the scarily in-form Rafael Jodar, he rose to the occasion, but not without a few scares along the way.
The Spanish teenager managed to conjure seven break points during the clash, although he failed to convert any, and even took the second set to a tiebreak, which he lost.
Whilst Jannik Sinner had nothing but kind words to say about Rafael Jodar, he was also cautious to ensure that fans didn’t forget about another ATP youngster who is also shining in Madrid.
Jannik Sinner names young ATP threat alongside Rafael Jodar
Whilst Jodar has commanded all of the attention lately, as the ATP Tour’s top-performing youngster over the last month, Sinner was keen to ensure that he did not take all of the limelight.
And, speaking at his press conference after their match, the world number one actually named another prodigious talent for fans and players to look out for.
Sinner began by praising Jodar, before turning his attention elsewhere, first noting: “No, look, I think a player who has been ranked very, very high at the beginning of the season, and playing some incredible tennis.
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“In Barcelona, winning. Marrakech, I know he won. Making the final in Barcelona, coming here and making quarters. He’s already a very solid player, and he is, I think he has shown why, you know. He’s playing very, very high-quality tennis.
“You know, I think now, especially this tournament here, very young players are coming through. We cannot forget also about Blockx, for example, you know. He’s a bit under the radar, but he is an incredible player. Everyone is improving, you know, so you need always to be in the present moment.”
Sinner explained why he took particular interest in watching Jodar play Joao Fonseca earlier this week, admitting: “That’s also one of the reasons why I went to watch him, you know, him and Joao Fonseca.
“I like to watch because I know that they are going to be potentially the future opponents most of the time. Everyone is a very different player, and you need to adjust yourself. Even though here it’s a quite unique place to play, but at the same time you also need to find solutions here.
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“So, it was a great match. I found a way through. I am starting to get a bit tired also, you know. But in the same time, I try to recover as much as I can, and then we see how it goes for the semis.”
Sinner gave his honest verdict on Jodar’s level straight after playing.
Who is ATP youngster Alexander Blockx?
If you haven’t heard about Blockx yet, you surely will in the coming months and years.
After all, this Belgian talent has enjoyed a prolific junior career and has already made great strides on the professional tour.
Although the 21-year-old has not enjoyed the same rapid and well-documented rise as Joao Fonseca or Jodar, he is steadily claiming some huge wins, having also enjoyed a similarly spectacular April.
Following on from his run to the Round of 16 in Monte Carlo, he is now a quarterfinalist in Madrid, where he faces Casper Ruud next.
The former junior world number one is rising rapidly, having now cracked the world’s top 50 and enjoyed his maiden win over a top-ten player this week against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Blockx is quietly ascending at a frightening rate, and Sinner is right to warn the rest of the ATP Tour about him.
