Rafa Jódar's Roland Garros Breakthrough: A Five-Set Comeback, a Viral Controversy, and an All-Spanish Clash with Carreño

A marathon on Simonne-Mathieu

Rafael Jódar, the 19-year-old Spanish sensation, survived a grueling four-hour-and-sixteen-minute battle against American Alex Michelsen on Friday to reach the fourth round of Roland Garros. The match, played under a scorching sun on the Simonne-Mathieu court, was a test of pure endurance. Jódar ultimately prevailed 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, marking his first-ever appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam tournament.

The young player from Madrid, currently ranked 29th in the world, had to dig deep after losing the second and third sets. His aggressive, flat-hitting style mirrored that of his 42nd-ranked opponent, leading to a match filled with long rallies and unforced errors. Jódar's resilience proved decisive in the final two sets, where he broke Michelsen's serve at critical moments and maintained his mental focus.

The match isn't over until the last point, and that was my mentality in the fourth and fifth set. It's one of the reasons I turned the match around.

Carreño's triumphant return

Hours earlier on the same day, Pablo Carreño secured his own spot in the fourth round, defeating Argentina's Thiago Agustín Tirante 7-6(0), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. For the 34-year-old from Gijón, this marks a significant milestone: his first time reaching the second week of a major in four years, following a long and arduous recovery from a serious elbow injury that required surgery.

Carreño, currently ranked 89th, described the moment as deeply emotional, acknowledging the difficult path he has traveled to return to this level of competition. His victory guarantees an all-Spanish clash in the round of 16, ensuring that a player from Spain will advance to the quarterfinals. The veteran's experience and recent form, including a first-round win over 12th seed Jiri Lehecka, set the stage for a compelling generational duel.

I got goosebumps, because they have been very hard moments. The effort you have to make to get back to this level and physically recover what you once had is not easy.

A viral moment and a firm denial

Jódar's on-court triumph was almost overshadowed by a controversy that erupted on social media. A video clip from the match went viral, appearing to show the teenager making an angry gesture and possibly pushing a ball girl as he left the court for a bathroom break between the fourth and fifth sets. The footage, captured from a distance, left the incident open to interpretation, with many online users quickly condemning the player.

In his post-match press conference, a visibly concerned Jódar addressed the incident directly and firmly denied any wrongdoing. He explained that he was speaking with his father in the stands and that the ball girl, who was walking backward, tripped over a court cover. He insisted he never made contact with her and expressed his deep appreciation for the work of ball kids, especially under the hot conditions.

She was walking backwards, I didn't push her or anything. I was telling my dad to give me the things I needed. She was in the middle and was trying to get out of there. She went backwards but she didn't trip because I pushed her, I think it was the court cover and she tripped on that.

From sparring partner to rival

The upcoming match between Jódar and Carreño carries a unique backstory. In September 2024, a 17-year-old Jódar, fresh off winning the US Open junior title, was called up by David Ferrer to serve as a sparring partner for the Spanish Davis Cup team. There, he trained alongside his idols, including Carlos Alcaraz and Pablo Carreño. Now, just a year and a half later, the former helper will face one of his former mentors with a quarterfinal berth on the line.

Carreño recalled the young Jódar as being very thin but already possessing powerful strokes and an impressive command of the court. Jódar, for his part, acknowledged the special nature of the encounter, viewing it as both a challenge and an opportunity to continue his rapid ascent in the tennis world. The match is scheduled for Sunday.

A Spanish quarterfinalist guaranteed

With both victories, Spanish tennis is assured a representative in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros. The tournament is being played without the nation's current star and two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz, who is absent due to injury. This has opened the door for a new narrative, with the veteran Carreño seeking to cap his comeback story and the young Jódar aiming to solidify his status as the next great hope of Spanish tennis.

Jódar's victory over Michelsen was his 18th win on clay this year, tying him with Jannik Sinner for the most on the tour. His run in Paris, which includes a five-set comeback and navigating off-court distractions, demonstrates a growing maturity. The winner of the all-Spanish clash will advance to the quarterfinals, moving one step closer to a potential maiden Grand Slam title.