Rafa Jódar defeated Italy's Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-3 on hard court in Montreal on 7 August 2026, reaching the last 16 of the Canadian Masters. The Spanish world No. 15 needed just over an hour and a half to beat Musetti for the second time in less than a week, extending his run of consistent results on the ATP Tour.
The match opened tensely: Jódar missed three break points in the first game, then lost his own serve as Musetti took a 2-0 lead. The Madrid native quickly regained control, breaking back to level the score before earning another break late in the first set. Jódar closed out the opener 6-4.
In the second set, Jódar broke Musetti's serve immediately, but the Italian responded in the next game. The Spaniard then sharpened his return game, breaking Musetti twice more to move ahead 4-1. Musetti recovered one break, but Jódar stayed composed and sealed the match with another break at 5-3.
The result was Jódar's fourth trip to the last 16 at a Masters 1000 event in 2026, following similar runs in Miami, Madrid and Rome. He reached the quarter-finals in both Madrid and Rome. Just the previous week, Jódar had also beaten Musetti in Washington, coming from behind to win in three sets in the quarter-finals.
After the match, Jódar said their previous meetings did not make this contest any easier and pointed to the high level of play from both sides. He said the scoreline did not capture the match's intensity, particularly after Musetti broke back in the second set. Jódar credited his mental recovery and steady play for closing out the win.
Jódar's next opponent is Czech player Jiri Lehecka, then ranked 12th in the world. They will meet in the round of 16 for the first time on the ATP Tour. The Canadian Masters is a basic stop on the summer hard-court swing, where strong performances can build momentum ahead of the US Open.
Jódar's recent form has drawn attention, especially after his Washington run, where rain delays and a packed schedule tested his preparation for Montreal. As recent coverage of his Washington campaign noted, he has kept his momentum despite a demanding calendar.
Later in Jódar's 2026 season, his Montreal run took on added significance. ATP Tour reporting recorded quarter-final appearances in Madrid and Rome, a Montreal semi-final and a Shanghai final. By the Shanghai semi-final, he had earned 20 Masters 1000-level wins that season, information from the ATP Win/Loss Index.
Masters 1000 tournaments rank among the most prestigious events outside the Grand Slams, offering large ranking points and prize money. For Spanish tennis, Jódar's progress this season signals a promising new chapter as he challenges established names on tour and builds his reputation as a consistent threat at major events.
