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Jodar news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Rafael Jodar, 19, reached the Canadian Open semifinal after beating Arthur Fils. He's on the verge of breaking the record for fastest rise to top 10.
Background
Rafael Jodar turned pro in December 2025 and has had a breakout 2026 season. He earned his first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open, reached the top 100 in March, and has now reached the semifinals of the Canadian Open, a Masters 1000 event. His rapid rise has drawn comparisons to top players and has tennis fans excited about his potential.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2026Jodar earned his first Grand Slam win on his debut at the Australian Open.
- Mar 30, 2026Reached the top 100 in rankings by making the third round of the Miami Open.
- Apr 20, 2026Entered the top 50 after beating Alex de Minaur in Madrid.
- Aug 11, 2026Beat Arthur Fils to reach the Canadian Open semifinal, becoming the first player born in 2006 or later to make a Masters 1000 semifinal.
- Aug 12, 2026Faced Brandon Nakashima in the semifinal, with Jodar ranked 11th in live rankings.
- Aug 15, 2026Set to face Denis Shapovalov in Cincinnati, a demanding test.
Who’s saying what
- Expert
- Arthur Fils praised Jodar's forehand, backhand, and return, saying 'We will have 10 very fun years.'
- Analysts
- Ben Shelton noted Jodar's complete game and predicted he could outdo Shelton's own 2023 rise.
Still unverified
None