Rafael Jodar joins exclusive list with Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal after latest Barcelona win

Rafael Jodar is quickly making a name for himself on the ATP Tour.

The 19-year-old Spaniard only turned pro this year, but he’s already being talked about as one of the top young players on the rise.

He picked up his first ATP title in Marrakech not long ago, and has carried that momentum into the Barcelona Open.

Jodar started his Barcelona campaign with a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 win over Jaume Munar, then followed it up by reaching the quarter-finals after seeing off Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-3, 6-3.

Even at just 19 years old, Jodar is already carving out a place for himself in Spanish tennis history.

Rafael Jodar joins Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in the Barcelona Open record books

Jodar has become just the third Spanish teenager to make it to the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open.

The 19-year-old joins Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal in an exclusive group. They’re the only other Spaniards to have reached that stage of the tournament before turning 20.

Nadal first did it in 2005, then repeated the feat a year later, winning the title both times. He went on to become an 11-time champion at the event.

Alcaraz matched that achievement in 2022, beating Kwon-soon Woo and Jaume Munar on his way to a first quarter-final appearance. He didn’t stop there either, eventually lifting the trophy after defeating Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets.

He defended his title a year later by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas, becoming just one of five men ever to win back-to-back titles at this event.

As for Jodar, he’ll have a chance to move one step further when he faces Britain’s Cameron Norrie on Friday. The seventh seed has already seen off Stan Wawrinka and Ethan Quinn this week.

Jodar and Norrie already have a history from earlier this season

Their only previous meeting came earlier this year at the Acapulco Open, where Jodar won 6-3, 6-2.

The Spaniard, who was given a wildcard into the event, earned his first ATP 500 win with that result.

Speaking to ATPTour.com after the match, Jodar said: “I have been travelling a lot, playing a lot of tournaments.

“I haven’t had two or three weeks at home to relax and [process] what I am doing. But I am just trying to enjoy the process and every step I am taking in this beautiful process.

“I am trying to play all the tournaments I can and enjoy all the places I am able to play and it means a lot to me.”

Jodar then fell in the following round, losing 2-6, 6-4, 1-6 to Terence Atmane.

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