Spanish prodigy Rafael Jodar is rapidly approaching a landmark achievement in men’s tennis, edging ever closer to the quickest ascent into the ATP top ten after his quarter‑final victory over Arthur Filis at the Canadian Open. The rain‑interrupted match on Tuesday saw Jodar clinch the win 7‑6 (7‑5), 6‑3, a result that guarantees he will climb to at least the 11th spot in the world rankings – a remarkable leap from his position at the start of the year, when he was ranked 165th.
Only 19 years old, Jodar now prepares for a semi‑final showdown with American contender Brandon Nakashima, scheduled for Wednesday night and broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. A triumph in that encounter would propel Jodar past the long‑standing benchmark set by Germany’s Boris Becker, who held the record for the shortest interval – 210 days – between breaking into the top 100 and reaching the top ten. Jodar’s trajectory suggests he could eclipse that mark in just 140 days, provided he continues his winning form. However, Jodar’s path to a historic final also depends on the outcome of the other semi‑final, where defending champion Ben Shelton must be upset by Learner Tien.
Shelton, a two‑time Grand Slam semi‑finalist, has been dominant throughout the tournament, dispatching Jakub Mensík in straight sets 6‑3, 6‑1 in a swift 72‑minute match and yet to lose a set in Toronto. If Jodar and Shelton were to meet in Thursday’s final, a victory for the Spaniard would not only secure his place in the top ten but also etch his name in the record books as the fastest player ever to achieve that leap. After his win over Filis, Jodar reflected, “I played at a very high level against a tough opponent like Arthur. I had to give my best to win this match.
It worked perfectly; I stayed calm during the crucial moments and handled the pressure well.” In the women’s draw, Kazakh star Elena Rybakina mounted a spirited comeback after dropping the opening set to 11th‑seeded Naomi Osaka. Rybakina rallied to win 4‑6, 7‑6 (7‑5), 6‑4, earning a spot in the semi‑finals of the WTA Canadian Open in Toronto. Osaka started strongly, breaking serve in the first game and maintaining that advantage to take the first set. The second set saw both players exchange breaks twice before Rybakina edged it in a tense tie‑break.
In the decisive third set, Rybakina secured a pivotal break in the seventh game and never looked back, delivering what many observers called the tournament’s most compelling match. Rybakina, who could overtake Aryna Sabalenka for the world No. 1 ranking later this month, expressed her satisfaction: “Super happy.
It was a very difficult match. In the first set I made a few mistakes and had a poor start. It was a really tough one but I’m glad I could turn it around.
I don’t yet know exactly how, but I think my serve helped me a little.” Her next opponent will be American rising star Coco Gauff, who advanced to the semi‑finals after receiving a walkover when Belinda Bencic withdrew because of a hip injury. The other semi‑final pits Iga Swiatek against Elina Svitolina, with both players vying for a place in Thursday’s championship match. The Canadian Open continues to deliver high‑stakes drama on both the ATP and WTA tours, with fans able to follow the action live on Sky Sports from August 30 onward, or stream via NOW and the Sky Sports app.
The tournament’s blend of emerging talent, such as Jodar’s meteoric rise, and established stars fighting for supremacy, exemplifies why the event remains a highlight of the North American hard‑court season. As the week progresses, the tennis world will watch closely to see whether Jodar can shatter Becker’s record and whether Rybakina can maintain her momentum toward a potential world‑number‑one finish later this year.