Nineteen-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar secured his first Grand Slam main-draw victory by rallying from two sets down to defeat Rei Sakamoto in five sets at the Australian Open. The former University of Virginia player, who turned professional after one college season, showcased the mental resilience emphasized by his coaches. Jodar now faces 16th seed Jakub Mensik for a spot in the third round.
Rafael Jodar, a rising #NextGenATP talent from Spain, marked a milestone at the Australian Open by qualifying for the main draw and winning his opening match against fellow 19-year-old Rei Sakamoto of Japan. Despite squandering a two-set lead, Jodar composed himself to clinch the five-set thriller, advancing to the second round in Melbourne.
Jodar credited his mindset of acceptance, a principle instilled during his time at the University of Virginia under head coach Andres Pedroso. "I just try to give my best, try to give the best level I have that day and as Coach Pedroso would say, I just try to accept all things that come," Jodar told ATPTour.com post-match. "There are things that you cannot control, but if you have the best mental toughness that day, you can give yourself a chance to win that day."
Pedroso, who shared a video of Carlos Alcaraz discussing acceptance with his team—including Jodar—praised the teenager's maturity. "He’s the most mature 19-year-old you’re going to meet out there. He really knows what he wants and that’s the way he was raised," Pedroso said. Assistant coach Brian Rasmussen, traveling with Jodar in Australia, highlighted his focus on details. "If we just stay in there and do the right things mentally each and every point, their level is eventually come back down and ours is eventually going to raise," Rasmussen noted.
Jodar arrived at UVA as a top recruit fresh off the US Open boys’ singles title but faced challenges adapting to college tennis's intense environment. His first match, a loss to Connor Thomson amid raucous crowds, was a shock, yet he quickly rose to beat the nation's No. 1 player despite physical struggles. Off the court, Jodar's character shines; his father ensured he mentored younger players after big wins.
In 2026, Jodar has won 10 of 11 matches, including a Challenger final in Canberra, climbing from outside the top 900 to No. 134 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. A year ago at the Next Gen ATP Finals with Rafael Nadal and Martin Landaluce, he now eyes further progress. "I just want to enjoy every time that I'm playing tennis," Jodar said. "That's the first goal when I step on a court."
Next up is Jakub Mensik on Thursday, but Jodar's rapid ascent suggests more breakthroughs ahead.
