VIC, May 17, 2024
Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar advanced to his first quarterfinal on the Pro Circuit at this week’s ITF M25 Vic. The 17-year-old from Madrid, who received a wild card into the main draw of the ITF World Tennis Tour clay-court event, defeated Milan Markovits of Hungary and Raphael Collignon from Belgium en route to the stage of the last eigth in Catalonia.
We met Jodar for an interview.
Tennis TourTalk: Rafael, what are your impressions of the tournament here and can you tell us a bit about your season so far.
Rafael Jodar: It’s my first time here in Vic. This is one of my first Futures tournaments and one of my first events of the season. I have been playing on the ITF Juniors Tour but not this year because of my studies. I finished school only two weeks ago. Now, I will continue to play on both Circuits, which is good, as I will face different kind of opponents.
What are the strengths of your game?
I have a big serve and I am solid on both wings. I want to be aggressive on the court.
Where are you based?
I am in Madrid. That’s where I went to school and I also practice there at the Tennis Club Chamartin. This year has been difficult for me to handle both things. But I got good grades and I am very happy with that.
Do you get any support from the Federation?
The Spanish Tennis Federation is trying to give me opportunities to compete in international tournaments. That’s important for me, as I have the chance to face very tough opponents.
What are the main challenges coming from Juniors to the Pro Tour?
It’s a huge change for sure. The fitness is the most important thing at these type of tournaments. I do a good work in Madrid and hope to continue playing the Pro tournaments. I have a coach in Madrid and my Dad is responsible for the fitness. Javi is here with me this week in Vic. He supports me all the time. I am very happy to have this team.
What are your hobbies off the court?
I like to watch Netflix series like Outer Banks and also enjoy hanging out with my friends in Madrid.
Are you interested in football?
Sure, I am a big fan of Real Madrid and often go to the stadium to watch the games. I am very happy with the year. It’s incredible to have won La Liga and being in the final of the Champions League. It’s a big year for the club.
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Here in Vic you’ve reached your first quarterfinal on the Pro Circuit. What does it mean to you?
I am very happy with my level of tennis this week. I played well the last two matches. Let’s see what’s coming up in the future.
Do you have a particular role model in tennis?
When I was younger it was Rafael Nadal. Today I like Jannik Sinner a lot. I like how he plays and the way he faces the matches. Of course, I also like Carlos Alcaraz, as he is from my country.
How will your schedule look like over the next couple of weeks?
I will play a Juniors tournament in Milan next week followed by the Junior Championships at Roland Garros. It’s a dream for me to play on the same courts as the pros. It will be a good experience and I hope to do well in Paris.
Thank you and all the best.
