Inside Rafael Jodar Rising fast: More success, more influence | ATP Tour | Tennis

It all comes together

Inside Rafael Jodar Rising fast: More success, more influence

The Spaniard, ranked 57th in the world, does not lose sight of his goals

April 09, 2026

Rafael Jodar cemented his status as one of the brightest prospects on the ATP Tour Sunday when he won his first ATP title in Marrakech at just 19 years old.

When the first title of the ATP Tour arrives, the noise increases – the desire to call the player, the attempt to break the numbers, the need to change the week to predict – however, the first Spanish words after lifting the trophy revealed something else; the feeling that he still views tennis as the place where he is most at home, and most of the time.

In an interview held by ATPtour.com, Jodar was asked about the speed of his development, how fast everything is moving, and whether he ever thought that his first year as a professional would bring great success soon. Jodar did not seem surprised by his new position and spoke as someone who feels that this did not arise, but because of the hard work that has been sustained in recent months.

“I knew that I was doing well, I was working very well and improving my position a lot in the last few months,” said Jodar, who competed in the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals. Ultimately, the results are not entirely up to you because there are other factors that are out of your control.

On the ATP Tour, where it’s trying to measure everything by standards and themes, Jodar sticks to things he can influence; hard work, improvement, performance. He doesn’t paint the finale as an emotional rollercoaster, but as a game built with design and continuous changes.

“I knew I had to do things like I did this week. It was my first clay tournament this season. I had a game plan that went well, and as the end went on I got better,” said Jodar, who dropped just five games against Marco Trungelliti in the Marrakech final. I didn’t feel pressured. I’m still very young and I have a lot of games to improve my level.

Check out the Final Highlights of Marrakech 2026:

Perhaps this was the key to his week; lack of pressure as a competitive tool. Not out of ignorance, but out of freedom. Jódar speaks like someone who understands that his honor is important, but it shouldn’t get in the way. That is why his message, even on the biggest day of his career, does not lead to celebration but the next day. A way to get back to work without letting the trophy change him.

That method also explains the idea that the Spaniard repeats a lot and expresses his opinion well in court.

“I always say the same thing and I will always say it; it’s something I’ve known since I was young. I’m happy and I’m slowly getting better, I didn’t skip any steps,” Jodar said. “Before I was a little kid, I got experience on the Tour. It’s not work at all. Every time I play, it’s for fun, whether it’s training or competing. Sometimes the results don’t go well, but that doesn’t mean I stop enjoying being on the court.”

That statement is almost a manifesto, because in professional tennis, there is a fine line; when you start winning, it’s easy for the fun to fade away and be replaced by the pressure to keep producing. Jodar, on the other hand, insists on the opposite, which is why his views on goals are also unique.

“Setting a goal is never good. You shouldn’t put that much pressure on yourself,” said Jodar, who reached No. 57 career high in the PIF ATP Rankings. “This title motivates me to keep working every day, to stay humble. There is still room to improve, as I said before. Now it’s time to enjoy the title in Morocco and tomorrow I will think about the next competition.

“Every time you step on the tennis court, anything can happen, win or lose against any opponent. Ultimately, you’re playing against someone who challenges you, who shows you their level. You have to find a way to get through.”

Jodar’s view of tennis as a problem to solve also defines the way he constructs his work; step by step, not skipping stages, collecting games, gaining experience. The Spaniard, who grew up in Madrid, won three ATP Challenger titles at the end of last season before turning pro in December.

“When I was a child, I liked to play all sports: tennis, football, basketball… I like to play sports with my family,” Jodar said. “We saw that in tennis I could have a good time and improve a lot. I remember it as an amazing time. Thanks to my family, during my childhood I could try all kinds of sports and they never pressured me to choose one in particular. The choice was mine.”

Jodar recorded his first tour-level win at the Australian Open in January and backed it up with victories in Dallas, Delray Beach and Acapulco before entering the third round in Miami. The Spaniard then competed in his first tour-level event on clay in Marrakech, where he defeated three Top-100 players en route to the title.

“I took it game by game, tournament by tournament. I knew I had to play more games to adapt to this situation,” Jodar said. “I always think that I want to do more, I want to improve and become a better player. That will always be my goal. I am very happy that tennis has allowed me to have these experiences.

“I can enjoy being on the tennis court, but I also believe in a good result. Things went very well here from the first match. To win a title you always have to face challenges, but I handled them well. I am very happy to get my first title here in Marrakech.”

This decision leads back to where it started; The Tour is a place where every week you compete against the best players, where growth is constant and where the challenge is to improve when your opponent pushes you.

“Everyone has to follow their own path, improve and get the most out of their playing situation,” said Jodar. “I am motivated by the fact that there are good players who challenge you and make things difficult during matches. I want to improve my level when I play against them.”

Instead of looking in the mirror to convince himself that he has arrived, Jodar chooses to look ahead with a simple phrase; tomorrow is another tournament. Another week. Another step. Above all, the same idea that brought him this far remains; keep getting better without losing the fun.