"Have a lot to learn and a lot to improve if we want to reach that level one day": Rafael Jodar refusing to add himself and Joao Fonseca to Sinner and Alcaraz yet

Rafael Jodar admitted he was “very proud” of his Madrid Open run despite falling 6-2, 7-6 to world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who progressed to the semi-finals.

Playing in front of a home crowd at the Madrid Open, the young Spaniard pushed the top seed in spells, particularly during a tightly contested second set, and left the tournament encouraged by both his level and the experience gained. “It was a tough match,” Jodar said in his press conference. “Jannik played very well throughout. I take a lot of positives and I’m trying to learn from this match for the future.”

Facing the world No.1 for the first time, Jodar highlighted the completeness of Sinner’s game as the key difference. “Jannik is a great player. All of his shots are very complete, and I think that’s what makes him better than other players,” he explained. “I’ll watch the match again and try to learn from what I did well and what I didn’t do so well, and improve for next time.”

Despite the straight-sets defeat, Jodar felt there were periods where he matched Sinner from the baseline. “I think there were moments where I competed on equal terms, and that’s what I take from it,” he said. “There’s still a long way to go, but I take the positives.”

The Spaniard has been one of the breakout stories of the clay swing, and Sinner himself was full of praise throughout the week—famously writing “what a player” on the camera after their match. Jodar, however, echoed the Italian’s call for patience. “I agree with what he said,” he noted. “It’s my first year on the tour. There are still many tournaments this season and many seasons ahead. I just need to keep improving and take this as a learning experience.”

He was keen to keep expectations in check despite his impressive results. “Everyone on this tour plays very well. Just because I’ve had these results doesn’t mean I’m better than I really am,” he said. “It’s important to stay grounded and understand that anyone can beat you.”

Competing in Madrid carried extra significance for Jodar, who described the experience as both “very beautiful and very special.” “I’ve played four matches against very different and very tough opponents,” he reflected. “It’s been a great opportunity to learn. I hope I can keep playing at this level in the upcoming tournaments.” The run follows a strong spell that also included matches in Barcelona, underlining his growing consistency on clay. “I’ve played a lot of matches here in Madrid and also last week in Barcelona,” he said. “Now it’s about resting, recovering, and preparing for the next tournament.”

While the scoreline suggests a comfortable win for Sinner, Jodar pointed to a handful of crucial moments that ultimately decided the match. “I wasn’t very accurate in those key points,” he admitted. “Credit to him as well—he played them very well. There are some points I don’t even remember clearly, so it will be useful to watch the match again.”

He also praised Sinner’s composure under pressure.

“In the important moments, he has a lot of confidence,” Jodar said. “That’s where the difference is.”

Jodar’s rapid rise has brought increased attention, from bigger crowds to media commitments, but he insists it hasn’t changed his mindset. “I’ll remain the same person regardless of what happens,” he said. “It’s very special to have played four matches here in Madrid and reach the quarter-finals on centre court, but I know there’s still a long way to go—this is just the first step.”

Even advice from family has remained simple. After revealing his grandfather encouraged him to enjoy the occasion, Jodar confirmed he embraced that mindset. “I really enjoyed the match. That’s the priority—not just for this match, but for all the matches I’ve played here and in every tournament so far.”

With a busy schedule behind him, Jodar plans to continue taking things one match at a time. “I’ll focus on recovering well and approach each tournament with motivation and confidence that I can perform well,” he said, adding that his planned schedule should remain unchanged if there are no setbacks.

As for lofty comparisons and talk of a future “Big Four” featuring himself, Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Joao Fonseca, Jodar was quick to downplay the idea. “The future will tell,” he said. “Players like Carlos and Jannik have already shown a very high level and great consistency. João and I are still young—we have a lot to learn and a lot to improve if we want to reach that level one day.”