Rafael Jodar has advanced to the Wimbledon third round for the first time in his career after defeating compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta.
Jodar, who has now defeated Carreno Busta at consecutive major events, triumphed 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Court Two.
The Spanish teenager, who only turned professional at the beginning of this year, will play Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in round three.
It was an impressive performance from Jodar, who struck nine aces throughout the two-day contest.
The 19-year-old’s victory has seen him break even more ground on the ATP Tour, as he has overtaken world number one Jannik Sinner in one particular statistical area.
Rafael Jodar has won 21 matches since the start of the clay-court swing
Rafael Jodar first emerged as a potential star on the Tour during this year’s clay-court swing.
The youngster performed superbly throughout the swing, beating the likes of Cameron Norrie, Alex de Minaur, and Joao Fonseca.
As per OptaAce, Jodar has now won the second most matches of any player on the ATP Tour since the start of the clay-court swing – overtaking Jannik Sinner in the process.
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Jodar now has 21 match victories since the start of April, while Sinner has 20 to his name.
Of course, Sinner can match Jodar’s total when he plays American Jenson Brooksby in tomorrow’s third-round match.
If Sinner and Jodar both win their third-round matches, they will play each other in the fourth round.
ATP-level match wins since April 2026
- Alexander Zverev – 24
- Rafael Jodar – 21
- Jannik Sinner – 20
- Tommy Paul – 17
- Casper Ruud – 16
The pair met for the first time earlier this year at the Madrid Open.
Sinner emerged victorious, defeating Jodar 6-2, 7-6 in the quarter-finals.
Jannik Sinner’s reaction after beating Rafael Jodar in Madrid
“I think [he is] a player who has been ranked very, very high [after] the beginning of the season, and playing some incredible tennis,” Sinner after their match in Spain.
“In Barcelona winning [matches]. Marrakech, I know he won [the title]. Making [semi-finals] in Barcelona, coming here and making quarters.
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“He’s already a very solid player, and I think he has shown why. He’s playing very high-quality tennis.
The Italian also described Jodar as an ‘incredible player’.
Jodar has already bettered Carlos Alcaraz’s first-ever Wimbledon appearance in 2021.
Alcaraz, then 18 years old, was defeated in the second round by second seed Daniil Medvedev.
Alcaraz has gone on to achieve great things in south-west London, winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
Unfortunately, the Spaniard is not competing at this year’s event due to a wrist injury.
