Inside Rafael Jodar’s rapid rise to the Top 100: ‘He had a goal I’d never seen before’ | ATP Tour | Tennis

Rafael Jodar

Inside Jodar’s rapid rise to the Top 100: ‘He had a goal I’d never seen before’

University of Virginia head coach Andres Pedroso talks to ATPtour.com on the Spaniard’s journey

March 30, 2026

Rafael Jodar is a new member of the Top 100.

The 19-year-old joined the ranks of the elite on Monday after racing to the third round at the Miami Open hosted by Iau, his latest success in what has been a whirlwind 12 months.

This time last year, the Spaniard was outside the Top 900 in the PIF ATP Rankings and was still playing college tennis at the University of Virginia. Since then, he has moved up the ranks, winning three ATP Challenger titles in 2025 and winning tour-level titles at the Australian Open, Miami, Acapulco, Dallas and Delray Beach in 2026.

Born in Madrid, Jodar began playing at the age of six and was trained at Club de Tenis Chamartin with countryman Martin Landaluce, who last week moved to the Miami quarterback.

Fast forward to 2024 and Jodar is enjoying his greatest success in New York, where he won the US Open boys title. One of the most important chapters in Jodar’s rise came the following year. In 2025, the Spaniard chose to play college tennis, a decision that has become a viable and successful path to the professional game.

Under the guidance of head coach Andres Pedroso and assistant coaches Brian Rasmussen and Treat Huey, Jodar thrived at a high level of performance, earning ITA National Rookie of the Year honors and All-American recognition as he continued to improve his competitive credentials.

Pedroso, who first met Jodar in his youth, remembers immediately hearing something different about the Spaniard.

“The first time I saw him in person was at the US Open juniors – I believe in 2023 – and I was amazed by his maturity, his professionalism, the depth with which he competed,” Pedroso told ATPtour.com after Jodar’s run in Miami. “He didn’t look like a junior tennis player, he looked like a professional tennis player from the way he competed.

“Sure, he hit the ball well, and he was big and a good ball player. But what impressed me the most was how much of a mature competitor he was and what a winner he was.”

That first impression led to the hiring, with Pedroso in constant contact with Jodar in 2024, months before he lifted the boys’ US Open title. Central to Jodar’s rise is a concept that transforms exposure to improvisation.

“He has an amazing ability to be exposed to higher and higher levels of the game and take what he learns from those games and bring it to the training court with his dad, and he really excels at what he needs to improve in order to manage that level,” Pedroso said.

“It’s a credit to him and his dad for how focused they are on what he needs to do to get better every time he loses to someone higher than him. They’re doing a really good job of plugging the holes in his game and his mind when he’s facing someone better than him. Years.”

This trend played out every day in Charlottesville. Pedroso would see a change in Jodar’s attitude as soon as he walked on the court.

“It was all business. It was something that Brian and Treat realized,” Pedroso said. I always use the word to take things seriously.

Read more about Jodar
Jodar’s rise: ‘He’s the most mature 19-year-old you’ll ever meet’
Landaluce & Jodar: From partners in Madrid to rivals in Jeddah

Another important moment came at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, where Jodar was there as a hitting partner alongside players including Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca and Student Tien.

“I remember when he came back from Next Gen, he was hitting a really big ball,” Pedroso said. I said to myself, ‘You hit the ball so hard, I don’t know if this makes sense.’ I remember talking to his father, and he said that one thing he learned there is that those guys play a lot, they take the ball early, they play very offensive tennis. He saw that and immediately started using it.”

Jodar’s journey also underscores the growing importance of college tennis as a path to advancement, with Ben Shelton and Tien taking similar paths in recent years.

“For players who don’t get big on the Challenger Tour when they’re 18 or 19, it’s the best way,” said Pedroso. “The equipment is as good as any player in the Top 100. The strength and speed teach them how to compete, handle problems and handle pressure.” The mental side is the most important factor, and college tennis really pushes that.”

After waiving his remaining NCAA eligibility at the end of 2025, Jodar is focused on continuing to climb the PIF ATP rankings. Now at No. 89, Pedroso believes there is only one way forward for Jodar, who is now coached by his father Rafael.

“Rafa can play with anyone and he will have a chance against anyone, but he is humble enough to understand that he can lose to anyone,” said Pedroso. “What sets him apart is that belief combined with humility. He believes he can beat anyone, but he knows he has to be fully prepared. That combination is special, and it will help him increase his potential.”