"I cannot predict the future. They are all incredible talents" - Jannik Sinner refuses to label Jodar as a future rival after brilliant battle

Jannik Sinner did not have it all his way against Rafael Jodar. He was on the back foot for a proportion of the match but managed to deflect any threats to come out as a 6-2, 7-6(0) winner, sealing his spot in the semi-final of the Madrid Open.

Jodar proved to be a worthy test for the world number one, offering him a lot of grief and problems on court while being backed by a passionate Spanish crowd. The sets were tight at first but it proved that Sinner had an extra level or two at the backend of both. This allowed him to streak clear and seal the match in two sets as his quest for a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title prolongs.

Possibly the first glimpses of a rivalry in the future. Jodar kept Sinner on his toes throughout that match. On another day if he took his chances, it could have been a different story. Nevertheless, Sinner was quick to praise the 19-year-old after a brilliant run in Madrid.

"Look, he’s a player who has been ranked very high at the beginning of the season, playing incredible tennis—winning Marrakech, making the final in Barcelona, coming here and making the quarter-finals. That’s already very solid," he said in his press conference.

Not just him, but other young talents have caught his eye over the past few months. "He has shown why, playing very high-quality tennis. And here, especially, very young players are coming through. You also cannot forget about Alexander Blockx—he’s a bit under the radar, but he’s an incredible player. Everyone is improving, so you always need to stay in the present moment. That’s one of the reasons why I went to watch him, and also João Fonseca. I like to watch them because they are potentially future opponents. Everyone is very different, so you need to adjust yourself."

Sinner has already been pushed to the limit by Fonseca in Miami. Overall, this was another tough match but a very good one. "It was a great match—I found my way through. I’m starting to get a bit tired, but I’ll try to recover as much as I can and then we’ll see how it goes."

Being the favourite on court, and second favourite among the Spanish fans, there was always going to be a tricky tie for Sinner to come through unscathed. However, he used his wealth of experience to find a way through.

"Of course there was pressure, because before the match I was the favourite," he acknowledged. "But you need to handle that pressure in a good way. The atmosphere was very supportive of Rafael, but also very fair, which I really appreciated from the fans. We were hoping for a good match, and that was the case. When you’re part of a good match, it’s always a good feeling. At the beginning, he maybe felt a bit of tension, which is normal. But later it became a very good match. I had a bit more experience in the crucial moments, and that helped."

He also shared a nice embrace at the net with Jodar. He was asked what he told him. "I just wished him the best for the season. I told him to keep working, keep improving—that’s it. Just a few compliments."

Sinner has played a lot of tennis recently. Over the last two months, he has played in, and won, Indian Wells, Miami Open and Monte-Carlo Masters. Added to that is his ongoing run in Madrid. Another final could be soon on the horizon, but before that he will need to get past whoever he will face in the semi-final, with rest and recovery a priority.

"I’ve played a lot in the last one and a half to two months, with not many days off. But I try to push myself to the limit to see what I can reach," he said. "It’s never easy. I believe I’m in a good position, but you always need to push yourself. At the end of the day, I’m alone on the court, but I have a great team behind me guiding me."

Honestly, he stated that his attitude could improve when fatigued but that is something he is actively working on. "Sometimes when I’m tired, my attitude isn’t perfect, but I’m trying to improve that. Every day is different—you might feel pain, fatigue, or more pressure. That’s normal. I try to handle it positively and keep pushing."

He was not only physically, but mentally getting tested to the limit on court against Jodar, knowing that one slip up could be costly. "There’s always stress because the match can change very quickly. If one break happens, suddenly there could be a third set—which I was trying to avoid."

The Italian also described what it was like with the roof closed. "With the roof closed, the conditions were different—more humid, the court felt slower, and it became more physical. After winning the first set, you always try to close it in two. I made a good adjustment at 5–5 by moving closer on the return, which gave me a better perspective on his serve. Maybe I should have done it earlier, but it’s easier to say after the match."

The last couple of months have proved that Jodar has a very bright future in the sport. Tennis fans are looking on with excitement, some predicting him to challenge Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the future. Sinner was not as eager to participate in this argument, not jumping the gun with the Spanish prodigy. "I cannot predict the future. They are all incredible talents," he stated.

"My advice is always to keep the pressure away from the media as much as possible. At the end of the day, the player has to take the step forward. What he’s doing is incredible, and I wish him the best. But don’t push him too much—sometimes that pressure gets into your head and it’s very tough to get out. He’s a very good kid, with a great family behind him. He’s humble and has a good environment around him. I think he’s going to achieve incredible results."

A reporter pondered whether this was similar to Sinner facing a Novak Djokovic or a Rafael Nadal for the first time. "I think it’s different," Sinner answered. "When I played Novak, he had already won many Grand Slams and had been world No. 1 for years. The same with Rafa. I can’t put myself on their level. So the feeling of playing against me is different. But how he managed things today was very strong."