World No. 1 Jannik Sinner demonstrated his composure and skill on Wednesday by defeating 19-year-old wildcard Rafael Jodar with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) scoreline in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open. The victory not only secured his place in the semi-finals but also marked him as the sixth player in history to reach the semi-final stage of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.
From the opening game, the 24-year-old Italian showed a disciplined, aggressive approach. In the first set he broke Jodar twice, quickly establishing a 5-2 lead. He then closed out the set with a powerful backhand winner that left the Spanish teenager scrambling. The Spaniard, who had captured his maiden tour title in Morocco earlier in the month, tried to mount a comeback in the second set, pushing the score to 4-2.
However, Sinner’s experience on clay shone through as he saved two break points to bring the set back to parity at 3-3. The second set proved to be a tighter affair.
A double fault from Sinner gave Jodar a chance to break, but the Italian responded by fending off three break points with a crisp cross‑court forehand and two precise backhand winners that skimmed the sideline. Sinner then surged ahead to 40-15 in the following game, only for Jodar to rescue another three break points and claim the game, showcasing his resilience and fighting spirit.
Despite the fluctuations, Sinner kept his composure. He continued to press, eventually taking the lead and forcing a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, the world number one dominated, rattling off a series of forehands that Jodar could not reach. The 7-0 tiebreak score underscored Sinner’s control and mental fortitude at the crucial moments of the match. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis after the win, Sinner praised his opponent: "He’s an incredible player, Spain has another outstanding 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 on these courts. He’s from here, he knows exactly how to play in these conditions.
At the same time, I gained a little 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 triumph sets up a semi‑final clash with either France’s rising star Arthur Fils or Czech hopeful Jiri Lehecka, both of whom are scheduled to play later on Wednesday.
A win would propel Sinner toward his second clay‑court title of the season, following his recent success at the Monte‑Carlo Masters. In the women’s draw, another remarkable story unfolded.
Anastasia Potapova, a Russian‑born Austrian, became the first lucky loser ever to reach a WTA 1000 semi‑final after a thrilling 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 victory over former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova. Potapova, who fell in the qualifying rounds just a week earlier, seized her unexpected main‑draw entry and turned it into a historic run, having already dispatched former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina en route to the quarterfinals.
When asked whether she ever imagined being among the final four after her qualifying defeat, 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 in my life right now." The final set against Pliskova was a roller‑coaster. Potapova trailed 3-1 but then surged, winning five consecutive games and sealing the match with her tenth ace before collapsing to her knees in relief.
Reflecting on the experience, she admitted, "I had a few match points in the second set on my 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 opponent will be Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who advanced after a dominant 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 win over Linda Noskova. Kostyuk, who eliminated Potapova in the fourth round of the Madrid Open last year, has been unbeaten on clay this season and will look to continue her impressive form.
Both the ATP and WTA events in Madrid are being broadcast live on Sky Sports, with additional 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, providing fans with extensive coverage of the tournament’s dramatic moments and emerging storylines. Overall, the Madrid Open continues to deliver high‑quality tennis, showcasing the depth of talent across both the men’s and women’s tours. Sinner’s steady march toward a potential third Masters title and Potapova’s breakthrough as a lucky loser underline the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the sport, promising further excitement as the semi‑finals approach.