By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX
Rarely do elite players express a preference for their next opponent.
Jannik Sinner welcomes a potential clash vs. 19-year-old Madrid native Rafael Jodar in the Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinals for a couple of very good reasons.
World No. 1 Sinner swept Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5 to score his 20th consecutive victory and reach his second Madrid quarterfinal in the last three years. Sinner awaits the winner of today’s clash between Spanish sensation Jodar and Czech Vit Kopriva.
Sinner says he prefers playing Jodar in Madrid to feel his shots and learn his game ahead of potential red-clay meetings in Rome or Roland Garros.
“For me also personally, always pretending that he wins tomorrow, it would be good if I face him before
bigger tournaments coming up, Rome and then Roland Garros,” Sinner said of Jodar. “Here are very unique conditions. He is from Madrid, no, so he is very used to these conditions here.
“But at the same time I can have good, good feedback hopefully for bigger tournaments coming up.
So very exciting new player.”
Sinner said he watched former US Open boys’ champion Jodar beat Brazilian phenom Joao Fonseca and is impressed by the weight of Jodar’s shots and his explosiveness.
“Big, big talent. So let’s see what’s coming,” Sinner said. “At the same time, he still needs to win one
match today. I know every match is difficult. Kopriva won against very, very tough players, including also Rublev.
“So, tough player, but in any case I’ll try to be as ready as possible.”