Jannik Sinner, the world number one, showed why he is the best.
The Italian stopped the unstoppable streak of Rafael Jódar, the new jewel of Spanish tennis, in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open. It was 6-2, 7-6 (0) in the Caja Mágica.
Jódar, 19 years old, came like a shot. He had knocked down figures like Alex de Miñaur and Joao Fonseca. But Sinner, with the experience of a veteran, put him on the ground.
“At first I might have felt some tension, which is normal,” Sinner said. “But then it was a good game. I had a little more experience in crucial moments.”
The Italian had already gone to see him play before. It’s no coincidence: Sinner knows that these guys will be his rivals tomorrow.
Jódar, who is now number 42 in the ranking, has already made history. He is only the third Spaniard—after Nadal and Alcaraz—to win a match in Madrid before he was 20. And he has just won his first ATP title in Marrakech.
“He is a very quality player. Being 19 years old, what he has done already shows that he knows how to play important points,” commented Sinner.
The lesson here is clear: Talent takes you far, but consistency keeps you at the top. Sinner added his 21st consecutive victory and is already in the semis of all the Masters 1000 of the year.
Now Arthur Fils awaits him. And Jódar, with his head held high, leaves with learning.
“I take away many positive things and I try to learn from this match,” said the Spaniard.
This is how legends are built: one defeat at a time. Sinner continues on his way, and Jódar, his. But be careful, this boy is going to fight.
