In Madrid, on the Manolo Santana court, one of the most talked-about matches of the tournament has concluded: 19-year-old Rafael Khodar from Leganes put up a real fight against world number one Jannik Sinner. The Italian won the quarterfinal 6-4, 7-6 (0), but after the match he was generous with his praise for the Spaniard, noting his high level of play and potential. The words of support were voiced not only on camera, but also in the press center: Sinner advised Khodar not to give in to pressure and to keep working, emphasizing that his progress is impressive.
There was special attention on Khodar in Madrid. Sinner personally watched his second-round match against Alex de Minaur, where the Spaniard convincingly won, conceding just four games to his opponent. In a short time, Khodar has become a new favorite with the local fans, especially in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, who missed the tournament due to injury for the second year in a row. Next week, Khodar will enter the world’s top 30 for the first time, taking the 29th spot.
A test for the debutant
Despite the final defeat, Khodar displayed a mature game and matched the favorite in terms of determination. In the first set, he had two chances to break his opponent’s serve, and four more opportunities in the second, but was unable to capitalize on them. Sinner occasionally struggled with his own serve, but in the crucial moments he stayed composed and took the match to a tie-break, where he left the Spaniard with no chance.
After the match, Khodar admitted he had failed to capitalize on his chances and promised to analyze his game for further growth. He emphasized that he does not overestimate his achievements and continues to learn, as this is his first full season on the professional tour. Recently, he already reached the semifinals at the Conde de Godó tournament, and now he has solidified his status as one of Spain’s most promising players.
New challenges ahead
Khodar’s rapid progress is especially evident against the backdrop of his ranking at the start of the year: he was then ranked 896th. Now the Spaniard will be seeded at Roland Garros, where he will compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the second consecutive time. Before that, he will take part in the Masters 1000 in Rome—the last major event before Paris.
The match against Sinner was played under a roof due to rain, which provided more favorable conditions for the Italian. Nevertheless, Khodar stuck to his style and kept attacking, though with less accuracy than in previous matches. According to him, the experience in Madrid was an important milestone, but there is still plenty of work ahead.
Context and records
Jannik Sinner, who has already won tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo this season, is close to a historic milestone: he is two victories away from a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title. Since last October, he has not lost at tournaments in this series, except for a withdrawal due to cramps in Shanghai.
Attention to young Spanish tennis players is growing: recently, there has been discussion of Alcaraz’s records and the battle for leadership in Monte Carlo. Now a new name takes center stage, and Madrid is already seeing off Jodar with honorary applause.
