Who is Rafael Jodar?
In short
Rafael Jodar is a Spanish professional tennis player and the current world No. 11 in singles. He is in the news for his impressive run at the 2026 Shanghai Masters, where he recently defeated Jiri Lehecka to reach the Round of 16.
Who they are now
He is currently the second-highest ranked Spanish men's singles player. Having achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 11 in August 2026, he is considered one of the most successful debutants in ATP history.
Why they are in the news
People are searching for him because of his recent comeback victory against Jiri Lehecka at the Shanghai Masters and his upcoming match against Botic van de Zandschulp.
An example of their work
In his first year as a professional, Jodar achieved 40 victories, a record for a debutant on the ATP circuit. He also recently secured a place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 Shanghai Masters by winning a three-set match.
Sources
- Rafael Jódar
- Rafael Jódar is now the best debutant in history on the ATP circuit
- Botic van de Zandschulp vs Rafael Jodar Preview & Prediction | 2026 Shanghai Masters | Round of 16
- Shanghai Masters 2026 tennis results live: Rafael Jodar stuns Lehecka, Stefanos Tsitsipas rallies past Taylor Fritz to reach round of 16