Rafa Jódar defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the third round of the Masters 1,000 in Canada, booking his place in the tournament’s last 16. The Spaniard, whose strong run began with a Marrakech title at the end of March, will next face Czech player Jiri Lehecka in a match scheduled for Saturday. The win extends Jódar’s campaign and adds to a season of deep runs across the ATP Tour.
The match against Musetti was intense and demanded tactical discipline. After taking a set and moving 4-1 ahead, Jódar faced a determined response as Musetti broke back and narrowed the gap. Jódar stayed composed at impressive moments, including while serving at 4-3, then closed out the set with steady play. His ability to reset and stay focused under pressure proved decisive.
The statistical gap was clear: Musetti committed 22 unforced errors, while Jódar limited his mistakes to 10. That efficiency helped decide the match. Jódar also excelled on return, pressuring Musetti’s serve and taking control of rallies when opportunities arose. The Italian could not mount a comeback as Jódar held his level through the closing stages.
Since spring, Jódar has reached the Barcelona semifinals and the quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome. He also made the Roland Garros quarterfinals and the Washington final before his Canadian Masters run. His season continued with a landmark performance in Shanghai: he defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinal, then contested the final against fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Jódar became the first player born in 2006 to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final.
A ranking update dated October 19 listed Jódar at No. 11 with 3,234 points and Musetti at No. 26 with 1,870. Jódar’s rise reflects results across multiple tournaments, not a single breakthrough week. His Canadian win also brings him closer to a third victory over a top-10 opponent, following reported wins against De Miñaur in Madrid and Musetti in Washington.
For Musetti, the defeat ends his hopes of repeating his 2023 run to the last 16 in Canada. The Italian was seeking a third win this season over a top-20 player, having previously beaten Rublev in Hong Kong and Fritz at the Australian Open. Despite his efforts, Musetti’s errors and Jódar’s consistency proved too much to overcome.
Lehecka booked his place in the next round by defeating Alexander Blockx, setting up a meeting with Jódar. The Czech player’s solid performance sets up a compelling clash between two players looking to extend strong seasons. Jódar’s progress has added to the tournament’s intrigue and gives his consistency and ambition another test.
Spanish tennis has recently drawn attention for players making impressive strides internationally. Paula Badosa’s injury withdrawal in Iasi, covered in coverage of her Iasi final setback, highlights the challenges facing Spain’s top talents. Jódar’s momentum in Canada, followed by his historic Shanghai final, adds to the depth of Spanish tennis in 2026.
The Canadian Masters remains a basic event for players seeking ranking points and momentum ahead of the season’s final stretch. Jódar’s performance has put him among the season’s standout players, and his next match against Lehecka will test his consistency and ambition once again.
