Rafael Jódar wins on grass debut as Spanish teenager’s rapid rise continues at Wimbledon
Aged 19 and ranked outside the top 600 a year ago, Rafael Jódar won his first professional match on grass on his Wimbledon debut, the latest step in a startling rise into the world’s top 30.
Rafael Jodar, Wimbledon 2026 | © Action Plus / PsNewz
Rafael Jódar extended one of the most remarkable rises in men’s tennis on Monday, the 19-year-old Spaniard winning his first professional match on grass on his Wimbledon main-draw debut, beating Felix Gill, his first-round opponent 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.
Seeded 23rd, Jódar arrived at the All England Club ranked No. 26 in the world, having sat outside the top 600 just a year ago. The performance was the latest staging post in a breakthrough season that has already brought a maiden ATP title in Marrakech and a quarter-final run at Roland-Garros, reached on his Grand Slam tournament debut.
A natural clay-courter, like many of his compatriots, Jódar made light of the rapid switch of surfaces. “Three weeks ago I was playing in the French Open on clay, and then you have to switch your mind and play on grass the next week,” he said. “You just have to adapt as quick as possible. That’s the goal for every player.”
Everything goes very fast, and if you don’t serve very well one game, then getting that break back is difficult
He spoke like a player long accustomed to the surface’s demands. “Everything goes very fast, and if you don’t serve very well one game, then getting that break back is difficult,” he said, crediting his composure in the tight moments late in the second and third sets. “There were some situations where I had to be mentally tough. And I did great.”
Asked about the Spanish grass-court tradition that runs from Rafael Nadal to Carlos Alcaraz, Jódar – a lifelong Nadal admirer – was matter-of-fact about the modern demand to master every surface. The reward for his victory is a daunting one: he sits in the section of defending champion Jannik Sinner, a player he pushed hard in Madrid this spring, and is the projected fourth-round opponent should both advance.
Jodar, ranked No 26, will face Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta next, his opponent at Roland-Garros fourth round. Carreno Busta, previously 0-7 in his career at Wimbledon, finally gets his first win at the big age of 34. Denis Shapovalov was down set point in the second set when he crashed into the corner fence and injured his shoulder. He retired.
