World number one Jannik Sinner demonstrated his resilience and skill on Wednesday by defeating 19-year-old wild‑card entrant Rafael Jodar 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) in the quarter‑finals of the Madrid Open. The victory not only secured Sinner’s place in the semi‑finals but also made him the sixth player in history to reach the semi‑final stage of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events, underscoring his consistency across the elite tier of men’s tennis. From the first serve, the 24‑year‑old Italian displayed a disciplined, aggressive game plan.
In the opening set he broke Jodar twice, establishing a 5-2 lead that gave him a comfortable cushion. Sinner’s powerful backhand, a signature shot of his repertoire, capped the set with a decisive winner that left the Spanish teenager scrambling for a response. Jodar, who had just captured his maiden tour title in Morocco earlier in the month, showed flashes of brilliance but was unable to sustain the intensity required to challenge the world‑class opponent. The second set unfolded as a tighter contest.
Jodar surged ahead to 4-2, threatening to swing the momentum in his favour. However, Sinner’s experience on clay shone through as he saved two break points to level the score at 3-3. A double fault from the Italian momentarily gave Jodar another chance to break, but Sinner countered with a series of aggressive cross‑court forehands and razor‑sharp backhand winners that skimmed the sideline, ultimately saving three break points in quick succession. At one stage Sinner surged to a 40-15 advantage, only for Jodar to claw back and claim the game after saving three break points of his own.
The duel highlighted Jodar’s tenacity and his ability to create opportunities even against a top‑ranked opponent. Nevertheless, Sinner maintained his composure, using his superior movement and tactical awareness to dictate play. When the set reached a tiebreak, the Italian raised his level dramatically, dominating the mini‑set with a series of clean forehand winners that left Jodar with little chance to respond. The tiebreak concluded 7-0, sealing Sinner’s straight‑sets triumph.
In the post‑match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Sinner praised his young adversary, noting, "He’s an incredible player, and Spain now has another rising star. It’s great for the sport." He acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter, especially given Jodar’s familiarity with the local conditions: "He knows exactly how to play in these conditions.
I had to rely on a bit more experience in the second set and a little luck at times, but I tried to keep the level as high as I could." Sinner’s performance in Madrid comes on the heels of his recent success at the Monte‑Carlo Masters, where he captured his second clay‑court title of the season. By reaching the semi‑finals in Madrid, he continues his pursuit of a third Masters 1000 crown on the red earth, further cementing his reputation as one of the premier clay specialists of his generation. Looking ahead, Sinner will face either France’s rising talent Arthur Fils or Czech teenager Jiri Lehecka in the semi‑finals, with both opponents slated to play later on Wednesday.
The winner of that match will move on to the final, where a spot in the prestigious year‑end ATP Finals awaits. The same day also featured a historic moment on the women’s side. Anastasia Potapova, a Russian‑born Austrian who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying, became the first lucky loser ever to reach a WTA 1000 semi‑final.
She achieved this feat by defeating former world number one Karolina Pliskova in a dramatic three‑set battle, 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3. Potapova’s run has been remarkable, including victories over former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world number two Elena Rybakina. When asked about her unlikely journey, the unseeded Potapova admitted she never imagined she would be among the last four: "No, I wouldn’t have believed it for any amount of money.
That’s what makes our sport beautiful – you get a second chance and you have to make the most of it." After trailing 3-1 in the deciding set, Potapova rallied to win five consecutive games, sealing the match with her tenth ace before collapsing to her knees in relief. Potapova’s next opponent will be Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who dispatched Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 to claim her own semi‑final berth. Kostyuk, who eliminated Potapova in the fourth round of the previous year’s Madrid Open, arrives in the semi‑finals undefeated on clay this season.
Both the ATP and WTA events in Madrid continue to attract global attention, with live coverage available on Sky Sports and streaming through the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Fans can follow the remaining matches, enjoy highlights, and access in‑depth analysis as the tournament progresses toward its climax.