Rafael Jodar, a 19-year-old Spanish tennis player, has made an impressive run at the 2026 Roland-Garros, reaching the quarter-finals on his main draw debut.

Following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal, Jodar won two consecutive five-set matches, including a victory over fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, despite Carreno Busta battling a shoulder issue.Earlier, Jodar had also come back from two sets to one down against American Alex Michelsen.

The young Spaniard started the clay season with a Challenger win in Morocco and strong performances in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome, amassing a 19-3 record on red clay this year.Currently provisionally ranked No.22, Jodar faces a tough test against third-ranked German Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.The tournament has been unpredictable, with early exits from top players like world No.1 Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who withdrew due to a wrist injury.

In the women’s draw, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk defeated four-time champion Iga Swiatek and will meet Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals, highlighting a tournament full of surprises and emerging talents.