19-year-old Spanish rising star Rafa Jodar is set to face Australian veteran Alex de Minaur in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open. With Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing due to injury, the local pressure at the Caja Mágica has shifted entirely onto the shoulders of the world No. 42.
The matchup is scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026, with the exact start time still to be determined. Spanish fans can catch the broadcast live on Teledeporte and Movistar+ as Jodar looks to secure the biggest win of his young career against the world No. 8 and tournament’s fifth seed.
Jodar enters the matchup riding immense momentum after securing his first ATP 250 title in Marrakech and reaching the semifinals at the Barcelona Open. His path to the second round in Madrid was brutal.
He staged a massive comeback against Dutchman Jesper de Jong. He battled back from a quick first-set deficit to win 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 despite late-match calf issues during a grueling two-hour and 32-minute match.
Real Madrid football star Jude Bellingham was actively watching the young Spaniard’s first-round victory from the stands. Jodar dedicated the win to him by performing Bellingham’s iconic open-arms celebration tribute on the clay.
This second-round clash is a massive statistical jump for Jodar. Spanish media reports his professional winning percentage to start his clay-court career is currently outpacing the early starts of both Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
Just three years ago, Jodar was a relatively unknown sparring partner at this exact tournament. During that 2023 event, he specifically asked to take a fan photo with De Minaur. They now face off as Top 50 competitors in their first-ever ATP Tour meeting.