World No. 1 Jannik Sinner battled past 19-year-old wild‑card entrant Rafael Jodar, clinching a 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) victory in the Madrid Open quarter‑finals on Wednesday.
The win propelled Sinner into the semi‑final stage and marked him as the sixth player in history to reach the semi‑finals of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. The Italian star demonstrated resilience when he fended off five break points in the second set, then surged ahead by winning eleven consecutive points to seal the match. In the opening set, Sinner displayed disciplined tennis, breaking the home favourite twice to build a 5-2 lead before finishing the set with a powerful backhand winner. Jodar, who had captured his maiden tour title in Morocco earlier in the month, threatened to surge ahead 4-2 in the second set.
Sinner, however, saved two break points to level the score at 3-3. A double fault from Sinner gave Jodar an opportunity to break, but the Italian responded with a strong cross‑court forehand and two backhand winners that skimmed the sideline, preserving the tie. Soon after, Sinner surged to a 40-15 advantage, yet Jodar fought back, saving three break points before eventually taking the game.
The momentum shifted again when Sinner, seeking his second clay‑court title of the season after his triumph at the Monte‑Carlo Masters, dominated the tiebreak. He closed it out with a forehand that Jodar could not reach, securing the set and the match.
Sinner's next opponent in the semi‑finals will be either France's Arthur Fils or the Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka, who face off later on Wednesday. After the win, Sinner spoke to Sky Sports Tennis, praising his opponent: "He's an incredible player. Spain has another amazing talent, and that's great for the sport.
It was a tough challenge; I knew before the match that beating him here would be difficult. He's from here, he knows exactly how to play in these conditions. I gained a little more experience in the second set, got a bit lucky at times, but I tried to keep my level as high as possible. I'm happy with how I finished the match.
I tried to raise my intensity a bit, go a little faster, and that helped me." In the women's draw, Anastasia Potapova turned a disappointing qualifying loss into a historic run, becoming the first lucky loser ever to reach a WTA 1000 semi‑final. The Russian‑born Austrian defeated former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 in a thrilling encounter on Wednesday.
Potapova, who fell in the qualifying rounds last week, seized the unexpected main‑draw spot and stunned Pliskova despite squandering three match points. Her path to the semi‑finals has already featured impressive wins over former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina.
When asked whether she ever imagined reaching the last four after her qualifying defeat, the unseeded Potapova replied, "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, Potapova trailed 3-1 but then rattled off five straight games, sealing the victory with her tenth ace before collapsing to her knees in relief. Reflecting on the match, she said, "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 this tournament keeps giving me second chances and I keep using them." Potapova will meet Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in the semi‑finals after Kostyuk dispatched Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-1), 6-0.
Kostyuk, who eliminated Potapova in the fourth round of Madrid last year, has been unbeaten on clay this season. Both the ATP and WTA tours continue to attract global audiences, with live coverage available on Sky Sports and streaming through NOW and the Sky Sports app. Subscribers can enjoy over 50 percent more live sport this year at no extra cost. For more details, visit the Sky Sports website.
The Madrid Open has once again highlighted the depth of talent across both men’s and women’s tennis. Sinner’s steady progress towards a historic Masters 1000 record underscores his consistency on the biggest stages, while Potapova’s Cinderella story exemplifies the unpredictable excitement that makes tennis a beloved sport worldwide. As the tournament moves into its final stages, fans can anticipate high‑stakes matches, potential upsets, and the emergence of new champions who will shape the narrative of the season. With the semi‑finals set, the remaining competitors will need to balance physical endurance with strategic adaptability.
Clay courts demand patience, precise footwork, and the ability to construct points methodically. Players like Sinner, who have already demonstrated a capacity to adjust tactics mid‑match, will likely thrive. Meanwhile, the women's draw will see Potapova’s aggressive baseline play tested against Kostyuk’s consistent counter‑punching style, promising a compelling clash of contrasting approaches.
Overall, the Madrid Open continues to deliver high‑quality tennis, showcasing both established stars and rising talents, and setting the stage for the upcoming clay‑court season leading into the French Open.