Rafa Jódar eliminated Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets at the Canadian Masters. The Spaniard advances to the round of 16, where he will face Jiri Lehecka. This marks his fourth Masters 1,000 last-16 appearance this year.
Rafa Jódar delivered another convincing performance in Montreal, dispatching Italy's Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-3 to secure a place in the last 16 of the Masters 1,000 tournament in Canada. The Spanish world number 15 needed just over an hour and a half to claim his second victory over Musetti in less than a week, underlining his growing consistency on the ATP circuit.
The match began with early tension as Jódar missed three break points in the opening game and then lost his own serve, allowing Musetti to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Madrid native quickly regained control, breaking back to level the score and then securing a crucial second break late in the first set. Jódar closed out the opener 6-4, showing resilience after a shaky start.
In the second set, Jódar immediately broke Musetti's serve, but the Italian responded in the next game. The Spaniard then stepped up his return game, breaking Musetti twice more to move ahead 4-1. Although Musetti managed to recover one break, Jódar maintained his composure and sealed the match by breaking again at 5-3, confirming his place in the next round.
This result marks the fourth time in 2026 that Jódar has reached the last 16 at a Masters 1,000 event, following similar runs in Miami, Madrid, and Rome. Notably, he advanced to the quarterfinals in both Madrid and Rome, highlighting his steady progress at the highest level. Just last week, Jódar had also defeated Musetti in Washington, coming from behind to win in three sets during the quarterfinals.
After the match, Jódar emphasized that previous encounters with Musetti did not guarantee an easy contest, noting the high level of play from both sides. He pointed out that the scoreline did not fully reflect the intensity of the match, especially after Musetti broke back in the second set. Jódar credited his mental recovery and consistent play for closing out the win.
Looking ahead, Jódar will face Czech player Jiri Lehecka, currently ranked 12th in the world, in the round of 16. This will be their first meeting on the ATP Tour. The Canadian Masters is a key stop on the summer hard-court swing, and strong performances here often set the tone for the upcoming US Open.
Jódar's recent form has drawn attention, especially after his run in Washington, where rain delays and a packed schedule tested his preparation for Montreal. As highlighted in recent coverage of his Washington campaign, Jódar has managed to maintain momentum despite a demanding calendar.
The Masters 1,000 tournaments are among the most prestigious events outside the Grand Slams, offering significant ranking points and prize money. For Spanish tennis, Jódar's progress this season signals a promising new chapter, as he continues to challenge the established names on tour and build his reputation as a consistent threat at major events.
