Madrid's hometown tennis hero on a fairytale breakout run at the Caja Mágica

‘This is Madrid! Let’s go!’ was the message written on the camera by Rafa Jódar, the local hero igniting the Caja Mágica tennis complex in the early hours of Monday (27 April).

Born and raised in the Spanish capital, where he grew up watching the Madrid Open his whole life, the 19-year-old has truly brought the charm to the venue whose name translates to ‘The Magic Box’.

Jódar was awarded a wildcard entry for the ATP Masters 1000 tournament; now he has taken out two seeds, defeating top 10 player Alex de Minaur and then teenage rival João Fonseca in a three-set thriller to advance to the round of 16.

It is impressive enough that the Spaniard is performing at this level. But when you consider this is his first season as a professional, it raises even more merit for the man on the cusp of being seeded at next month’s French Open.

“When you have to make the jump to the next level, it’s more complicated because you start to play against more experienced players,” Jódar told Olympics.com in Spanish back in April 2025. “That is when it really shows whether you want to and can get the results to become a professional tennis player.”

In the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and watched on by Spain’s Davis Cup captain, David Ferrer, the teenager’s debut on home soil is proving one to savour.

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Rafa Jódar, inspired by Rafael Nadal and dreaming of Olympic gold

Jódar will debut inside the top 35 in the world after the Madrid Open and can rise even higher ahead of his second Grand Slam appearance in Paris. At the Australian Open, the Spaniard made it through qualifying and to the second round of the main draw.

By coincidence, the 1.90m athlete shares a first name with his idol and Spain’s greatest tennis player ever, Rafael Nadal. The shouts of ‘¡Vamos, Rafa!’ (Come on, Rafa!’) were a welcome returning sound inside Estadio Manolo Santana.

“My parents called me Rafa because my dad and my grandad are also called Rafa,” explained Jódar. “Nadal has always been my idol on and off the court; the legacy he left is enormous. I really love the name Rafa - it’s very good for playing tennis, for sure.”

The teenage debutant embodied the two-time Olympic champion’s tenacity in Madrid, playing without fear and with a ferocious forehand – albeit from his right hand. He brings confidence and swagger, too, exemplified when he emulated Jude Bellingham’s celebration in front of the Real Madrid star after his first-round win.

Jódar enjoyed success at a junior level, claiming the US Open boys’ singles title in 2024, and last December qualified for the NextGen ATP Finals for the best under-20 players in the world.

On New Year’s Eve, he announced that he would be departing the collegiate game with Virginia Men's Tennis. That decision is already paying dividends, with a maiden top-10 victory inside four months of his professional career against de Minaur.

The long-term objectives include winning a major and rising to world No. 1, and while it remains a goal for down the line, becoming an Olympian is a key target for Jódar.

“My dream has always been to represent Spain at the Olympic Games,” he said. “Spanish tennis is strong, and it will be complicated because there are a lot of good tennis players. It is always a pride to represent my country - I dream of winning Olympic gold for Spain.”

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