Rafa Jódar, a promising 19-year-old tennis player from Madrid, has received a wild card entry to compete in the main draw of the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco. Originally registered for the qualifying rounds, Jódar’s impressive form this season caught the attention of the tournament organizers, granting him direct access to the final draw without going through qualifications.
This Monday, Jódar achieves a career-best ATP ranking of 114. His 2026 season has been notable, including reaching the final at the Challenger 125 tournament in Canberra and advancing to the second round of the Australian Open, marking his debut in a Grand Slam main draw after successfully navigating the qualifiers.
In recent weeks, Jódar has competed in two ATP circuit events. He passed the qualifying stage in the ATP 500 tournament of Dallas but lost in the opening round to Denis Shapovalov. He then reached the second round of the ATP 250 event in Delray Beach before narrowly falling to top-10 player Taylor Fritz.
The draw for Acapulco has paired Jódar with world number 26 Cameron Norrie in the opening round. Norrie, a former Indian Wells Masters 1000 champion, will represent a significant challenge. The match is scheduled for Monday night to Tuesday morning, Spanish local time. A victory would put Jódar within reach of breaking into the ATP top 100 rankings for the first time in his career.
Key Highlights of Rafa Jódar’s Recent Performance:
- Career-high ATP ranking: 114
- Finalist at Challenger 125 Canberra
- Second-round appearance at the Australian Open
- Participation in ATP 500 Dallas and ATP 250 Delray Beach
- Faces Cameron Norrie (ATP #26) in Acapulco first round
This opportunity at Acapulco underscores the rising trajectory of Rafa Jódar’s career, reflecting both his growing skill and recognition within the professional tennis community.
Read more at: ftm.es
