World number one Jannik Sinner demonstrated his resilience and skill on Wednesday by edging out 19‑year‑old wildcard Rafael Jodar with a 6‑2, 7‑6 (7‑0) victory in the quarter‑finals of the Madrid Open. The win not only secured Sinner a 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.
From the first serve, the 24‑year‑old Italian displayed a disciplined and aggressive game plan. He broke the home favourite twice in the opening set, racing to a 5‑2 lead before closing the set with a powerful backhand winner that left Jodar scrambling.
The Spaniard, who captured his maiden tour title in Morocco earlier this month, fought back in the second set, pushing the score to 4‑2 and threatening to swing the momentum in his favor. Sinner, however, remained composed under pressure. He saved five break points in the second set, demonstrating his mental toughness.
After a double fault from Sinner gave Jodar a chance to break, the Italian responded with a series of crisp cross‑court forehands and two precise backhand winners that brushed the sideline, ultimately saving three break points in that game. Although Jodar managed to break back later, Sinner quickly regained control, taking a 40‑15 advantage in the following game. The match reached a pivotal moment when Sinner dominated the tie‑break, unleashing a forehand that Jodar could not reach.
The Italian’s dominance in the tie‑break, winning it 7‑0, cemented his passage to the semi‑finals. This victory adds to Sinner’s impressive clay‑court résumé, as he is already chasing his second clay title of the season after his triumph at the Monte‑Carlo Masters. Looking ahead, Sinner will meet either France’s rising star Arthur Fils or the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka, who are scheduled to play later on Wednesday. Both opponents present distinct challenges, but Sinner’s confidence after the Madrid win suggests he is ready for whatever lies ahead.
In a post‑match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Sinner praised his opponent: "He’s an incredible player, Spain has another amazing talent and it’s great for the sport. It was a tough challenge.
I knew before the match that it would be very difficult to beat him, especially here. He’s from here, he knows exactly how to play in these conditions. At the same time, I gained a bit more experience in the second set, got a little lucky at times, but I tried to keep the level as high as I could.
I’m happy with how I finished the match. I tried to raise my level a bit, play a little faster, and that helped me." The Madrid Open also produced a historic moment on the women’s side. Anastasia Potapova, a Russian‑born Austrian, became the first lucky loser ever to reach a WTA 1000 semi‑final.
After falling in the qualifying rounds, she entered the main draw as a replacement and stunned former world number one Karolina Pliskova with a 6‑1, 6‑7 (4‑7), 6‑3 victory. Potapova’s remarkable run has already featured wins over former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world number two Elena Rybakina, underscoring her ability to compete with the sport’s elite. When asked whether she ever imagined being among the final four after her qualifying loss, Potapova responded with humility and gratitude: "No, I wouldn’t have believed it for any amount of money.
That’s what makes our sport beautiful. I was given a second chance and now I’m here. I’m super happy. There’s nothing better that could happen to me right now." In the deciding set against Pliskova, Potapova fell behind 3‑1 but rallied spectacularly, stringing together five consecutive games and sealing the match with her tenth ace before collapsing to her knees in relief.
She reflected on missed opportunities earlier in the match, saying, "I had a few match points in the second set on serve. I couldn’t manage my nerves at the time, I know that. But it seems like this tournament keeps giving me second chances and I keep using them." Potapova’s next challenge will be against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who dispatched Linda Noskova 7‑6 (7‑1), 6‑0 to claim her spot in the semi‑finals. Kostyuk, who eliminated Potapova in the fourth round of the Madrid Open last year, has been unbeaten on clay this season, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their upcoming clash.
The Madrid Open continues to showcase the depth and excitement of both the ATP and WTA tours, offering fans live action across multiple platforms. Viewers can watch the matches on Sky Sports, stream them via the NOW service, or use the Sky Sports app, which provides Sky Sports customers with over 50% more live sport coverage at no additional cost.
For more information on how to access the live streams and detailed match statistics, fans are encouraged to visit the official Sky Sports website. Overall, Sinner’s victory and Potapova’s breakthrough highlight the unpredictable nature of tennis, where experience, youth, and second chances intertwine to create compelling narratives.
As the tournament moves into its final stages, both the men’s and women’s draws promise high‑quality tennis, dramatic storylines, and the potential for new champions to emerge.