Rafa Khodar, just 19 years old, became the main revelation of the Madrid Masters 1000, securing a spot in the quarterfinals after a tense match against Czech player Vit Kopriva. The game took place on the central Manolo Santana court, where the Spaniard managed to turn the tide and confirm his status as the new hope of Spanish tennis.
The first set unfolded with a minimal advantage: both athletes confidently held their serves up to 3-3. At that moment, Kopriva managed to put pressure on Khodar, earning two break points, but the Spaniard kept his composure and denied his opponent the chance. The key moment came in the 12th game: at 6-5, Khodar broke the Czech’s serve to love and took the set.
The only Spaniard left in the tournament
After Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal due to injury, Rafa Khodar remained the only Spanish representative in the main draw. His performance has drawn special interest from the public, as the athlete hails from Leganés—a district just a few kilometers from the Caja Mágica arena. In recent days, Khodar has already claimed three wins at the tournament: first over Dutchman Jesper de Jong, then dispatching Australian Alex de Minaur with confidence, and in the third round prevailing over Brazilian João Fonseca.
The victory over Kopriva (world number 66) was Khodar’s first at the round of 16 stage of a tournament at this level. He now faces the world number one—Italy’s Jannik Sinner. Notably, Sinner is also maintaining a successful run at this tournament, as previously mentioned in the report on his match against Denmark’s Moller: Sinner maintains his lead in Madrid.
Match details and career breakthrough
Hodar started the second set with a confident break and solidified his advantage by winning his service game without losing a single point. The Czech was unable to put up a fight at the end, and the Spaniard secured the win, demonstrating maturity and the ability to handle pressure.
For Vit Kopriva, this tournament became the best of his career at the Masters 1000 level: previously, he had never progressed beyond the round of 16. This season, the Czech reached the semifinals at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro, but he still has no ATP-level titles.
Context and prospects
Rafa Hodar is just beginning his professional career, but has already managed to win his first ATP title in Marrakech and reach the semifinals in Barcelona. Last year, he competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals, and this season has secured a place in the main tour draw. Many observers note his confidence and maturity on court, especially against the backdrop of the absence of other Spanish tennis players in the later stages of the tournament.
The Madrid Open is traditionally considered one of the key events of the season for Spanish fans. This year, public attention is focused on Hodar, who has reached the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 for the first time in his career, and tomorrow will face Jannik Sinner on the central court of the Caja Mágica.
