Rafael Jodar, a 19-year-old from Madrid, turned pro after winning ATP Challenger titles and giving up remaining college eligibility at the University of Virginia. He won his first main-level ATP match at the Australian Open and then climbed the rankings quickly. He will enter the French Open as one of the 32 seeds. Jodar’s rise is framed as part of Spain’s long run of men’s tennis success, beginning with Sergi Bruguera’s French Open titles in the early 1990s and continuing through multiple champions, including Rafael Nadal. The piece contrasts Jodar with Joao Fonseca, who chose to turn pro instead of playing college tennis with Jodar at Virginia. Spain’s depth is compared to Sweden’s dominance in the 1970s and 1980s led by Bjorn Borg.
"After winning several ATP Challenger titles (the level below regular ATP tournaments) the Spaniard decided to turn pro and forgo his final three years of college eligibility. Jodar won his first main-level ATP match at this year's Australian Open. And now, stunningly, after a meteoric and nearly unprecedented rise up the rankings, the 19-year-old will be among the 32 seeds when the French Open commences Sunday."
"And, in the process, the new Rafa while he has said he was inspired as a child by Nadal, Jodar is named after his father and grandfather has managed to steal the mantle of the next future champion hype away from Brazilian Joao Fonseca. Ironically Fonseca, also 19, was committed to play college tennis at Virginia with Jodar but instead decided to turn pro, leaving one to wonder if that college team, had it materialized, would have been among the best ever."
"To have yet another player thrust into the grand slam-winning-possibility conversation adds to the utter embarrassment of riches Spain has enjoyed for more than three decades. Starting with Sergi Bruguera's back-to-back French Open titles in 1993 and 1994, the Spanish men have enjoyed a nearly uninterrupted run of dominance with six different players winning grand slams, culminating at least, one assumed it was culminating with Rafael Nadal's 22 major titles."
"Consider: just three months after Nadal's final grand slam triumph at the 2022 French Open, Carlos Alcaraz won his first major championship at that year's US Open. (He has since won six more, but will miss this year's French Open and Wimbledon with a wrist injury.) The only Open-era analog that comes to mind is Sweden's moment in the sport in the 1970s and 80s. Bjorn Borg, the ultimate tennis icon, put Sweden on the map with 11 grand slam titles in an eight-year span,"
Read at www.theguardian.com
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