Jodar Battles Back After Two-Set Deficit
Rafael Jodar produced a dramatic comeback on Thursday afternoon to keep his Wimbledon debut campaign alive, overcoming Pablo Carreno Busta in a five-set thriller.
The match, which was halted on Wednesday evening due to darkness, resumed at No. 2 Court with Carreno Busta leading two sets to one and Jodar up 2-1 on serve in the fourth. After a tense restart, the Spaniard eventually completed a 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory after three hours and 43 minutes of play.
Key Highlights
- Rafael Jodar defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a two-day Wimbledon second-round match.
- The match resumed on Thursday after being suspended due to darkness, with Jodar trailing by two sets to one.
- The 19-year-old becomes only the third Spanish teenager in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon men’s third round.
- Grigor Dimitrov also advanced, beating Jakub Mensik to reach the Wimbledon third round for the first time since 2023.
Decisive Fifth Set Turnaround
After forcing a deciding set, Jodar immediately created three break points in the opening game at 0/40. Although Carreno Busta saved all three to hold serve, the momentum soon shifted. Jodar responded strongly, winning the next four consecutive games to seize control and move into the decisive stages of the match before sealing victory.
Repeat Grand Slam Win Over Carreno Busta
This latest triumph marks the second straight Grand Slam where Jodar has defeated former world No. 10 Carreno Busta in a five-set battle. At Roland Garros in May, Jodar came back from two sets down to beat the 34-year-old Spaniard and reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in just his second major appearance.
Teenage Milestone at Wimbledon
Before this year, Jodar’s only Wimbledon experience came in 2024, when he reached the boys’ singles quarter-finals. Now, by winning his first two professional matches at The All England Club—also his first ATP-level matches on grass—he becomes only the third Spanish teenager in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon men’s third round, following Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
Jodar Reflects on Grass Transition
Speaking after the match, Jodar admitted the adjustment to grass has been challenging, particularly due to limited time to reset between surfaces. He explained that unlike clay, where he had prior experience, grass was entirely new territory for him at this level. However, a strong pre-tournament preparation week in Wimbledon helped him build confidence heading into the event.
Rapid Rise in the Rankings
Jodar’s breakthrough continues a remarkable rise in the PIF ATP Rankings over the past year. Twelve months ago, he was ranked World No. 554, but he now sits at No. 25 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings after securing his 26th tour-level win of the 2026 season.
He will next face Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki, with the winner set to meet either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Jenson Brooksby in the fourth round.
Dimitrov and Berrettini Advance
Elsewhere at Wimbledon, Grigor Dimitrov recorded his biggest win of the season, defeating 15th seed Jakub Mensik 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the third round. The Bulgarian, who was forced to retire injured against Jannik Sinner last year, delighted fans on No. 1 Court with a strong performance and emotional celebration after sealing victory under the roof.
Dimitrov will now face Matteo Berrettini, who defeated Arthur Fils 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon third round for the fourth time in his career.
