World number one Jannik Sinner demonstrated his class on Wednesday by outlasting 19-year-old wild card entrant Rafael Jodar, securing a 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) victory in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open. The win not only moved Sinner into 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 rally, the 24-year-old Italian displayed a disciplined, aggressive style. In the opening set he broke the home favourite twice, building a comfortable 5-2 lead before closing out the set with a powerful backhand winner that left Jodar scrambling.
The Spaniard, who captured his maiden tour title in Morocco earlier this month, showed flashes of brilliance, especially in the second set where he surged to a 4-2 advantage. However, Sinner’s composure under pressure shone through as he saved two break points to level the score at 3-3. The second set turned into a tense battle of nerves. A double fault from Sinner gave Jodar a chance to break, but the Italian responded with a series of precise cross‑court forehands and two razor‑sharp backhand winners that brushed the sideline, forcing Jodar to defend three break points in a row.
Sinner then surged ahead 40-15 in the following game, yet Jodar fought back, saving three more break points before finally clinching the game himself. The exchange highlighted Jodar’s resilience and Sinner’s ability to stay focused despite the Spanish youngster’s repeated attempts to seize momentum.
With the set tied at 6-6, the tie‑break became the decisive factor. Sinner, already chasing his second clay‑court title of the season after triumphing at the Monte‑Carlo Masters, dominated the mini‑set, blasting a forehand that Jodar could not reach.
The Italian’s aggressive play, combined with his tactical adjustments after the first set, allowed him to win the tie‑break convincingly and seal the match. After the match, Sinner spoke to Sky Sports Tennis about his opponent’s quality.
"He’s an incredible player, Spain has another amazing talent and that’s great for the sport," Sinner said. He added that he expected a tough contest, noting Jodar’s familiarity with the local conditions: "He knows exactly how to play in these conditions. I got a little bit more experience in the second set, got a bit lucky at times, but I tried to keep the level as high as I could. I'm happy with how I ended the match.
I tried to level up a little bit, going a bit faster, and that helped me." Sinner’s next opponent in the semi‑finals will be the winner of the match between France’s Arthur Fils and the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka, scheduled for later on Wednesday. The 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 No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in a thrilling three‑set battle, 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3. Despite squandering three match points, Potapova’s resilience carried her through a roller‑coaster encounter that showcased her fighting spirit. Potapova’s run in Madrid has been remarkable.
After qualifying loss, she seized her unexpected main‑draw spot and has already recorded impressive victories over former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina. When asked whether she ever imagined being among the final four after her qualifying defeat, the unseeded player responded, "No, I wouldn’t, for any money and anything. 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 in my life at the moment." In the deciding set of her semi‑final, Potapova trailed 3-1 before unleashing a surge of five consecutive games, culminating in a decisive 10th ace and a dramatic drop to her knees in celebration.
She reflected on missed opportunities in the second set, saying, "I was given a few match points 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 will now face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the semi‑finals. Kostyuk, who dispatched Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-1), 6-0, had previously eliminated Potapova in the fourth round of the 2023 Madrid Open and remains unbeaten on clay this season.
Both the ATP and WTA matches are being broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app. Subscribers can enjoy over 50 percent more live sport this year at no extra cost, offering fans extensive coverage of the tournament’s decisive moments.