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Rafael Jódar

Spanish tennis player (born 2006)

Rafael Jódar

Rafael Jódar Camacho is a Spanish professional tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 23 achieved on 8 June 2026 and a doubles ranking of No. 344 achieved on 2 March 2026. He is currently the No. 3 Spanish player in men's singles.

Rafael Jódar
Rafael Jódar
Jódar at the 2026 French Open
Country (sports) Spain
ResidenceMadrid, Spain
Born (2006-09-17) 17 September 2006 (age 19)
Madrid, Spain
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Turned pro2025
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
CollegeUniversity of Virginia[1]
CoachRafael Jódar (father) Brian Rasmussen (UVA Assistant Coach)
Prize moneyUS $1,894,783
Singles
Career record26–11 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 23 (8 June 2026)
Current rankingNo. 23 (8 June 2026)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (2026)
French OpenQF (2026)
Doubles
Career record1–1 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 344 (2 March 2026)
Current rankingNo. 358 (8 June 2026)
Last updated on: 8 June 2026.

Rafael Jódar Camacho (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxoðaɾ kaˈmat͡ʃo]) (born 17 September 2006) is a Spanish professional tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 23 achieved on 8 June 2026 and a doubles ranking of No. 344 achieved on 2 March 2026. He is currently the No. 3 Spanish player in men's singles.[2]

Jódar has won one ATP Tour singles title at the 2026 Grand Prix Hassan II.

Early life

Jódar was born on 17 September 2006 in Madrid, Spain. On his paternal side, Jódar's family is originally from Baeza.[3][4] Contrary to popular belief, he was not named after Rafael Nadal; his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all share the name "Rafael."[5] He started taking tennis lessons in his early childhood, inspired by his idol Nadal.[6]

College

Jódar attended the University of Virginia in 2024, before announcing his decision to pursue tennis full-time on 31 December 2025.[7][8][9] He had 19 wins and just 3 losses, reaching the NCAA number four singles ranking. He was selected for the ATP Next Gen Accelerator, giving him wildcard spots on the Challenger Tour.[10]

Junior career

In June 2024, he won the prestigious U18 grass tournament in Roehampton, England, prior to a run at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships that saw him become the last Spaniard in the main draw competition and included a straight sets victory over fourth seed Tomasz Berkieta.[11] He lost in the quarterfinals to Naoya Honda.[12] He also reached the quarterfinals of the doubles category, with compatriot Andrés Santamarta Roig, where they lost to Czech pair Jan Kumstát and Jan Klimas.[citation needed]

In September, he was crowned champion in the boys' singles category at the 2024 US Open, with impressive victories over second seed Kaylan Bigun in the quarterfinal and third seed Rei Sakamoto in the semifinal.[13][14] He defeated first seed Nicolai Budkov Kjaer in the final.[15][16]

Later that season, Jódar qualified for the 2024 ITF Junior Finals, where he was a runner-up. In the final, he lost to Mees Röttgering in straight sets.[17]

Jódar had good results on the ITF junior circuit, maintaining a 93–18 singles win-loss record, and reached an ITF junior combined ranking of world No. 4 on 9 September 2024.[18]

Professional career

2025: Challenger titles, NextGen Finals

In August, Jódar won his maiden ATP Challenger title at the Crete Challenger III, Greece, as an alternate, defeating sixth seed Dan Added in the final.[19] The two players faced again the following week at the Crete Challenger IV, this time Added defeating Jódar in the semifinal.[6]

Ranked No. 283, Jódar won his second title at the 2025 Lincoln Challenger, United States, defeating three seeds en route: Top seed Brandon Holt, fourth seed Patrick Kypson and eight seed Martin Damm Jr., and moved to ninth position in the NextGen race on 20 October 2025.[20][21][22][23]

Jódar won his third straight Challenger title at the Jonathan Fried Pro Challenger in Charlottesville, and became the third Spanish teenager to win at least three Challenger titles, joining Carlos Alcaraz and Nicolas Almagro. He reached a new career-high ranking of world No. 166 on 3 November 2025[24] and moved back to ninth position in the ATP Live Race To Jeddah.[25][26] In November, he officially qualified for the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals.[27][28] In his opening match, he saved four match points to secure a victory against top seed and eventual champion Learner Tien.[29] He also defeated compatriot and friend Martín Landaluce at the event.[30] Having begun 2025 ranked No. 895 in singles, Jódar climbed more than 700 spots in the rankings across that season.[31]

In December 2025, Jódar announced that he was turning professional full time.[9]

2026: First ATP title, French Open Quarter-Final

In January, Jódar made his Australian Open debut as a qualifier,[32] securing a maiden main draw win against fellow qualifier Rei Sakamoto in the first round.[33]

Jódar made his main-draw ATP 1000 debut at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, after receiving a wildcard.[34] At the 2026 Miami Open after qualifying for the main draw, Jódar defeated Yannick Hanfmann and Aleksandar Vukic recording his first wins at the Masters 1000-level, to reach the third round.[35][36] He fell to Tomás Martín Etcheverry but despite the loss Jódar reached the top 100 in the singles rankings on 30 March 2026.[37][38]

In April, Jódar earned his first ATP title at the Grand Prix Hassan II, Morocco, defeating the Argentinian Marco Trungelliti, rising to a career high world ranking of No. 57 on 6 April 2026.[39][40][41] Two weeks later he reached the top 50 in the singles ATP rankings on 20 April 2026,[42] following his first ATP 500 semifinal showing[43] as a wildcard,[44] at his home event, the 2026 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The following week, he also made his debut at his home Masters, the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open, defeating Jesper de Jong in the first round.[45][46][47] In the second round he earned his first win over a top-ten player with a win over world number eight Alex de Minaur for the loss of only four games.[48] He then defeated João Fonseca to reach the quarter-final of a Masters for the first time in his career, where he lost to top-seed Jannik Sinner.[49] Following the tournament his ranking rose to a career high world no. 34.[50] The following week, he defeated Learner Tien to also reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 Italian Open, becoming the first teenager to reach that stage of the competition since Novak Djokovic in 2007 and the first teenager to reach that stage in Rome and Madrid in the same sesson since Rafael Nadal in 2005.[51] Jodar lost to home favourite Luciano Darderi in 3 sets in the quarter-final.[52] His singles ranking reached No. 29 on 18 May 2026.[53]

With his ranking up to world No. 29, Jódar was 27th seed at the 2026 French Open. On his main draw debut at the event, he dropped just five games in a straight sets win against American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round. It was the fewest games lost in a French Open debut since Novak Djokovic against Robby Ginepri in 2005.[54] In the second round he defeated James Duckworth before facing Alex Michelsen.[55] He reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal with a five set win against compatriot Pablo Carreño Busta, coming back from two sets down.[56] He then lost to Alexander Zverev in the quarter-final in straight sets.[57]

Performance timeline

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RRQ# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

Current through the 2026 French Open.

Tournament20252026SRW–LWin%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A 2R 0 / 1 1–1 50%
French Open A QF 0 / 1 4–1 80%
Wimbledon A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
US Open A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Win–loss 0–0 5–2 0 / 2 5–2 71%
ATP 1000 tournaments
Indian Wells Open A 1R 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Miami Open A 3R 0 / 1 2–1 67%
Monte-Carlo Masters A A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Madrid Open A QF 0 / 1 4–1 80%
Italian Open A QF 0 / 1 3–1 75%
Canadian Open A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Cincinnati Open A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Shanghai Masters A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Paris Masters A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Win–loss 0–0 9–4 0 / 4 9–4 69%
Career statistics
Tournaments 0 11 Career total: 11
Titles 0 1 Career total: 1
Finals 0 1 Career total: 1
Hard win–loss 2–1 5–6 0 / 6 7–7 50%
Clay win–loss 0–0 19–4 1 / 5 19–4 83%
Grass win–loss 0–0 0–0 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Overall win–loss 2–1 24–10 1 / 11 26–11 70%
Win % 67% 71% 70%
Year-end ranking[a][b] 168 $1,894,783

ATP Tour finals

Singles: 1 (title)

Legend
Grand Slam (–)
ATP 1000 (–)
ATP 500 (–)
ATP 250 (1–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (–)
Clay (1–0)
Grass (–)
Finals by setting
Outdoor (1–0)
Indoor (–)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Apr 2026 Grand Prix Hassan II, Morocco ATP 250 Clay Argentina Marco Trungelliti 6–3, 6–2

ATP Challenger Tour finals

Singles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-up)

Finals by surface
Hard (3–1)
Clay (–)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Aug 2025 Crete Challenger III, Greece Hard France Dan Added 6–4, 6–2
Win 2–0 Oct 2025 Lincoln Challenger, US Hard (i) United States Martin Damm Jr. 6–7(3–7), 6–3, 6–3
Win 3–0 Oct 2025 Charlottesville Men's Challenger, US Hard (i) United States Martin Damm Jr. 6–3, 7–6(7–2)
Loss 3–1 Jan 2026 Canberra Tennis International, Australia Hard Belgium Alexander Blockx 4–6, 4–6

ITF World Tennis Tour finals

Singles: 1 (runner-up)

Result W–L    Date    Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Jul 2024 M25 Dénia, Spain Clay Spain Pol Martín Tiffon 2–6, 6–4, 3–6

Junior Grand Slam finals

Singles: 1 (title)

Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 2024 US Open Hard Norway Nicolai Budkov Kjær 2–6, 6–2, 7–6(10–1)

Wins over top 10 players

  • Jódar has a 1–3 record against players who were, at the time the match was played, ranked in the top 10.[58]
Season 2026 Total
Wins 1 1
# Player Rk Event Surface Rd Score Rk Ref
2026
1. Australia Alex de Minaur 8 Madrid Open, Spain Clay 2R 6–3, 6–1 42 [59]
  • Key: (Rk) first use, opponent rank; (Rd) round; (Rk) 2nd use, player rank; (Ref) reference; (F) final; (SF) semifinal; (QF) quarterfinal; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage
*As of 25 April 2026

Notes

  1. ↑ 2023: ATP ranking–1751
  2. ↑ 2024: ATP ranking–896

References

  1. ↑ Rafael Jodar - Virginia Sports
  2. ↑ "Spain ATP rankings".
  3. ↑ "Rafael Jodar, finalist of the EMILIO Sánchez Vicario Academy European Tennis Championships". ftm.es. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "Rafa Jódar: "Mi referente internacional es Nadal y nacional Alcaraz" - El Partidazo de COPE". 16 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "Spain's Jodar rallies for huge win over Roland Garros champ". 6 September 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Rafael Jodar's Journey: From idolising Nadal to forging his own path". 15 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Virginia Recruiting Class Ranked No. 1". Virginia Sports. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Dietrich, Jódar Qualify for ATP Next Gen Accelerator Program". 2 June 2025.
  9. 1 2 Kilham, Max (31 December 2025). "Teenager who impressed Rafael Nadal quits college and joins ATP Tour". Tennis Head. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rafael Jódar - Men's Tennis 2024-25". Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
  11. ↑ "Rafael Jódar, the Spanish promise who is already in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon Junior 2024". Puntodabreak. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  12. ↑ "Rafael Jódar falls in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon Junior". Puntosebreak.com. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  13. ↑ "Rafael Jódar will compete in the semifinal of the 2024 US Open Junior". puntodebreak. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  14. ↑ Berg, Aimee (6 September 2024). "No. 1 Budkov Kjaer to play for second Slam at 2024 US Open". usopen.org. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "Jódar conquers America at the 2024 US Open Junior". puntodebreak.com. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  16. ↑ "Rafael Jodar, Mika Stojsavljevic win US Open junior titles". ESPN. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  17. ↑ "Mees Röttgering wint prestigieuze World Tennis Tour Junior Finals". Limburger.nl (in Dutch). 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Rafael Jodar Junior Overview".
  19. ↑ "Rafa Jodar, 2024 US Open junior champ, wins first Challenger title in 9th outing". ATPTour. 2025-08-18.
  20. ↑ "Rafael Jódar Wins ATP Challenger Singles Title". 19 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Rafa Jódar conquers his second Challenger and aims for the top 200". puntodebreak.com. 19 October 2025.
  22. ↑ "Jodar, Bailly charge towards Jeddah with big weeks". 20 October 2025.
  23. ↑ "Jodar, Bailly charge towards Jeddah with big weeks". 20 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "Rafael Jódar wins Charlottesville Challenger, climbs to world No. 166". The Cavalier Daily. 3 November 2025.
  25. ↑ "How Rafael Jodar joined Alcaraz in Challenger history..." ATPTour. 3 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "Blockx, Jodar win Challenger titles & climb in Live Race To Jeddah". ATPTour. 3 November 2025.
  27. ↑ "Jodar's late-season surges helps him seal Jeddah spot, Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF field set". ATP Tour. 29 November 2025.
  28. ↑ "Rafael Jodar Competing at ATP Next Gen Finals". Virginia Sports. 14 December 2025.
  29. ↑ "Jodar saves 4 MPs, stuns top seed Tien in Jeddah thriller, Budkov Kjaer wins". atptour. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  30. ↑ "Tien tops Budkov Kjaer, both advance to Jeddah SFs". ATPTour. 19 December 2025.
  31. ↑ "Charlie Robertson, Murray's protege, using Next Gen ATP Finals as springboard". ATPTour. 21 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "Who qualified for the 2026 Australian Open?". ATPTour. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  33. ↑ "The rise of Rafael Jodar: 'He's the most mature 19-year-old you're going to meet'". atptour.com. 21 January 2026.
  34. ↑ "Monfils, #NextGenATP star Jodar headline Indian Wells wild cards". 28 February 2026.
  35. ↑ "Jodar, Blanch lead #NextGenATP takeover in Miami". ATPTour. 19 March 2026.
  36. ↑ "Rafael Jodar, now with wins at every tour level, soon to join "very good human" Carlos Alcaraz in Top 100". 19 March 2026.
  37. ↑ "Jodar, with Top 100 breakthrough secured, marches on to R3 in Miami". ATPTour. 21 March 2026.
  38. ↑ "Rafa Jódar succumbs to the expertise of Etcheverry". 22 March 2026.
  39. ↑ "Jodar continues Spain's teenage tradition with ATP title in Morocco". Reuters. 6 April 2026.
  40. ↑ "Jodar powers to first ATP Tour crown with Marrakech masterclass". ATP Tour. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  41. ↑ "Jodar storms into Top 60, Mover of Week". ATP Tour. 6 April 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  42. ↑ "Jodar continues to climb, Mover of Week". ATPTour. 20 April 2026.
  43. ↑ ""Vamos Rafa!" Teen titan Jodar takes Barcelona by storm". 17 April 2026.
  44. ↑ "Rafael Jódar shields himself against fame and makes a promise: "I am always going to be the same person"". ClayTenis. 11 April 2026.
  45. ↑ "Rafael Jodar breaks into Top 50 on ATP rankings just three weeks after Top 100 debut". 20 April 2026.
  46. ↑ "A new 'Rafa' rises in Spain as Rafael Jódar storms into top 50 before Madrid Open debut". AP News. 21 April 2026.
  47. ↑ "Jodar matches Nadal & Alcaraz feat in Madrid, barely 12 km from home". ATP Tour. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  48. ↑ "Jodar on first Top 10 victory: 'It's the top opponents who help you improve'". ATP Tour. 24 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  49. ↑ "Jodar after Sinner defeat: 'There's a long road ahead'". ATP. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  50. ↑ "Blockx bursts into Top 40, Mover of Week". ATP Tour. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  51. ↑ Kilham, Max (12 May 2026). "Super happy' Rafael Jodar completes achievement no player has managed since Rafael Nadal back in 2005". Tennishead. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  52. ↑ "Darderi claws past Jodar in memorable Rome QF rumble". atptour.com. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  53. ↑ "Rafael Jodar". ATP. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  54. ↑ "Teenager Rafael Jodar impresses in French Open debut". ESPN. 25 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  55. ↑ "Jodar wins at Roland Garros, beats Nadal, Djokovic & Alcaraz to this mark..." ATP. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  56. ↑ "Jodar rallies from two sets down to reach first Grand Slam QF at Roland Garros". 31 May 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  57. ↑ "Jodar takes positives from Zverev Roland Garros loss: 'I can compete against anyone'". ATP Tour. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  58. ↑ "Tennis Abstract: Rafael Jodar Match Results, Splits, and Analysis". Tennis Abstract. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  59. ↑ "Jodar sinks De Minaur for first Top 10 win, sets Fonseca Madrid clash". ATP Tour. Retrieved 25 April 2026.