Paris, May 26: Two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz is out injured. Promising 21-year-old French player Arthur Fils also pulled out with a physical issue. Jack Draper has been bothered for months by a right knee problem.
The list of candidates capable of challenging top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who enters the French Open on a three-month-long 29-match winning streak, has been dwindling.
Enter Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old Spaniard who has been making waves on the ATP Tour.
Jodar continued to impress in his Roland Garros debut, dropping just five games in a 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 rout of American opponent Aleksandar Kovacevic on Monday despite boiling heat at the clay-court Grand Slam.
The last man to concede fewer games in a French Open debut was Novak Djokovic, who allowed three to Robby Ginepri in 2005.
“I did the things very well from the start,” Jodar said. “It’s just my first year (on tour) and I’m experiencing a lot of things in these past few months.” Mostly, Jodar has been experiencing victories: He’s won 16 of his last 19 matches, raised a trophy on clay in Morocco, reached the semifinals in Barcelona and had a run to the quarterfinals in Madrid ended by Sinner.
A year ago, Jodar was ranked No. 707 and playing challengers – tennis’ minor leagues – in the US after he competed at the University of Virginia. Now he’s No. 29 and is seeded 27th in Paris.
Jodar appears destined to become a top-10 player and a serious contender for the biggest trophies. And Jodar is in the bottom half of the draw in Paris – meaning he could meet Sinner only in the final. (AP)
