World number one Jannik Sinner demonstrated his resilience and class on Wednesday by outlasting 19‑year‑old wild‑card entrant Rafael Jodar in a hard‑fought quarter‑final at the Madrid Open. The Italian clinched the match 6‑2, 7‑6 (7‑0), securing his place as the sixth player in history to reach the semifinals of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.
The first set unfolded as a showcase of Sinner's disciplined baseline game. He broke Jodar’s serve twice, quickly establishing a 5‑2 advantage. The Spaniard, who had been riding a wave of confidence after capturing his maiden tour title in Morocco earlier in the month, struggled to find answers to Sinner’s deep, penetrating groundstrokes.
Sinner capped the set with a blistering backhand winner that left Jodar scrambling, sealing the opening set 6‑2. The second set proved to be a far tighter contest. Jodar, buoyed by the home crowd, surged ahead to 4‑2, displaying a mixture of powerful forehands and deft touch at the net.
However, Sinner’s experience on clay shone through as he saved two break points to bring the score back to 3‑3. A double fault from the Italian gave Jodar another chance to break, but Sinner responded with a ferocious cross‑court forehand and two backhand winners that clipped the sideline, denying the Spaniard the break.
At 5‑3, Sinner surged ahead to 40‑15, yet Jodar displayed remarkable tenacity, saving three break points before finally breaking back to level the set at 5‑5. The momentum swung back and forth, with both players producing high‑quality rallies and showcasing the tactical nuances of clay‑court tennis.
Ultimately, Sinner’s consistency and mental fortitude prevailed. He dominated the tiebreak, rattling off a series of forehand winners that Jodar could not retrieve, and closed the match with a clean 7‑0 tiebreak score. In post‑match comments to Sky Sports Tennis, Sinner praised his opponent: "He’s an incredible player, and Spain now has another remarkable talent.
It was a tough challenge, and I knew before the match that beating him here would be difficult, especially given his familiarity with these conditions. I managed to stay a bit luckier in the second set, kept my level high, and tried to play a little faster, which helped me finish the match strongly." Sinner’s victory propels him into a semifinal clash that will be decided later on Wednesday between Arthur Fils and Jiri Lehecka. The Italian, who is chasing his second clay title of the season after triumphing at the Monte‑Carlo Masters, will now aim to add a Madrid Open final appearance to his résumé. The tournament also featured a historic breakthrough on the women’s side.
Anastasia Potapova, a Russian‑born Austrian who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after falling in qualifying, became the first lucky loser ever to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal. She achieved this milestone by defeating former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6‑1, 6‑7 (4‑7), 6‑3 in a roller‑coaster encounter that saw her squander three match points before ultimately prevailing. Potapova’s run in Madrid has been nothing short of sensational.
After qualifying losses, she capitalized on her unexpected entry, dispatching former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in earlier rounds. When asked whether she ever imagined being among the final four after her qualifying defeat, Potapova responded, "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 make the most of it.
I’m incredibly happy; there’s nothing better that could happen to me right now." In the decisive third set against Pliskova, Potapova trailed 3‑1 before launching a five‑game streak, culminating in a powerful ace that sealed the match. She later reflected on missed opportunities: "I had a few match points in the second set on serve, but I couldn’t manage my nerves at the time.
This tournament keeps giving me second chances, and I keep using them." Potapova’s next opponent will be Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who advanced after a straight‑sets win over Linda Noskova (7‑6 (7‑1), 6‑0). Kostyuk, who eliminated Potapova in the fourth round of the Madrid Open last year, has remained unbeaten on clay this season, setting up a compelling semifinal showdown. Both the ATP and WTA events at the Madrid Open are being broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app.
Subscribers can enjoy an expanded sports package that offers over 50 percent more live coverage at no additional cost. Overall, the Madrid Open continues to deliver dramatic narratives, from Sinner’s historic Masters‑1000 milestone to Potapova’s unprecedented lucky‑loser run, underscoring the depth of talent and the unpredictable excitement that defines modern tennis.