Fritz survives Jodar scare to end his title drought in Washington
Taylor Fritz finally secured his first title of 2026 at the Mubadala DC Open, overcoming a spirited challenge from teenage sensation Rafael Jodar (7-6, 6-4). The American world No 10 clinched the trophy in a dramatic final, denying Jodar a historic win and ending his own frustrating run of three consecutive final losses this season.
Taylor Fritz, Washington 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Taylor Fritz finally has a trophy in 2026. The world No 10 came through a nervy, dramatic finish to beat teenage sensation Rafael Jodar 7-6(2), 6-4 in the final of the Mubadala DC Open, claiming his first title of the season and denying the 19-year-old Spaniard a place in the history books.
For Jodar, there was heartbreak but enormous promise. The 19-year-old, chasing a second career title after Marrakech and a shot at becoming the second-youngest Washington champion in history, pushed a top-10 opponent to the wire on an injured hand — further proof that Spanish tennis has another star on its hands.
The title ends a frustrating run for Fritz, who had lost his previous three finals of 2026 (Dallas, Halle and Tokyo). It is his 11th career trophy and his first above ATP 250 level since 2022 Tokyo, lifting him back towards the top of the rankings and making him only the second American man to win Washington since 2008, after Sebastian Korda in 2024.
It looked, for a set and a half, as though it might be routine. The opening set went without a break of serve – both men held all six service games and saved the only break point they faced – before Fritz took command in the tiebreak, racing through it 7-2 with a pair of mini-breaks to bank the opener.
The No 3 seed then surged 3-0 ahead with a double break in the second and seemed set to cruise. But Jodar, who had already secured his top-20 debut this week, refused to fold. He broke straight back, and a suddenly tense Fritz coughed up his own serve to let the young Spaniard level at 3-2.
Fritz steadied to reclaim the initiative and moved to 5-3, only for the finish to descend into high drama. Jodar, who had taken a medical timeout at 5-4 for treatment on his left hand after a fall, produced astonishing resistance as Fritz served for the title. The teenager saved four match points – two with a fearless, fully committed backhand – and even manufactured a break point, which Fritz survived despite a foot fault at the worst possible moment.
Fritz’s forehand betrayed him under the strain, three errors in a row spurning the chance to serve it out, but the American composed himself just in time to convert his fifth match point and finally get the job done.
