Queen’s 2026: Rafael Jodar eyes Wimbledon debut after strong clay season

While Jodar, like any young aspiring Spanish player, idolizes Nadal, the reason he shares his name with the 22-time major winner is through family tradition: both his father and grandfather were named Rafael.

“Rafa has been a role model for me since I was young, not just in tennis, but in general. I think he’s very humble,” Jodar said.

“When I had a chance to talk to him he was a very nice person, he gave me some advice.

“I am very grateful for what he has done for the Spanish game and the world of tennis.”

Jodar only turned professional last year after a brief stint in the United States college system.

He broke into the world’s top 100 in March after a strong start to 2026 and won his first ATP Tour title in Marrakech a month later.

He further demonstrated his tendency to improve on clay, reaching the Barcelona semi-finals and the Madrid quarter-finals, where he lost to world number one Janic Ciner.

But it was his Roland Garros run – where he became just the fifth man this century to reach the Paris quarter-finals on his main draw debut – that really caught the eye.

So what can be expected from Jodar in the grass court?

Across International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments – the bottom tier of the ATP Tour – Jodar has a 90% winning record on grass, winning nine out of 10 matches in 2024.

That single loss came in straight sets to Japan’s Nawa Honda in the boys’ singles quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

The defeat ended a nine-match winning run in South West London, while he finished the tournament with the junior title in Roehampton without dropping a set.

While it remains to be seen how he will fare at the top level, Jodar has the weapons that could see him thrive on grass.

His game is founded on aggressive baseline striking and the Spaniard is behind only tour-leader Sinner, who is renowned for his baseline dominance, the ATP’s ‘return rating’ standard which combines each player’s score across first and second serve return points won, return games won and break points.

Over the past 52 weeks, his record of 34.0% first-serve return points won is ahead of Ciner and behind only Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the men’s game.

Despite his relative inexperience, he tends to be persistent in key moments as well.

Jodar is second on tour for converting break points, his 44.7% putting him ahead of compatriot Alcaraz (43.6%).

His ATP ‘under pressure’ rating – calculated by combining a player’s number of break points converted, break points saved, and tie-breaks and deciding sets – trails only nine players across the men’s game, and is better than five of the world’s top 10.

With Carlos Alcaraz absent from Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, all eyes in Spain will be on their latest teenage talent – but Joda hasn’t been distracted by the attention.

“Tennis is one of the most popular sports in Spain. There are always very good players,” he added.

“A young player doing well on tour is great.

“People who want pictures, autographs, I’ll always do that.”