INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 8, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Mixed Zone

R. JODAR/N. Borges

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In the first set, Love-30, you looked at some kids and made a fist. How much energy you get from the crowd today, if you were expecting to arrive in Rome and have not only Spanish fans, but a lot of fans here?

RAFAEL JODAR: It's a great place to play. Rome is always very special. It's my first time here. I really enjoy to play the first match and to get the first win. The crowd was really good for both players.

Q. You reached so many results in the last weeks. Now you are a seeded player in Rome. For you is normal like that in so few weeks? You are surprised with your results?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I don't think it's normal. It's my own path. I think I've done good results in the last few tournaments.

But I'm very happy. I know I have to keep improving. There's still a long way to go. I think I can reach a higher level in tennis.

But yeah, just trying to learn from every match and from every tournament.

Q. Can you share what have you done in the last year to be able to jump from 600 last year to having amazing results? What gave you this super success?

RAFAEL JODAR: I think just try to accept whatever happen in the tournaments. Some weeks you have to accept that things are not going as you could like to.

But yes, try to be there and learn from those matches. I think it's very important to analyze the matches and to also share your thoughts with your team. They can give you a feedback. I think that was really, really important.

I follow my own path, but I think I'm doing a great job in accepting things.

Q. What are the main things you now want to improve on to take the next step?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, I think overall I have to improve everything. If you want to play against the best players in the world, you have to have a really complete game and you have to play in a high level for long time.

All these tournaments, we know that we have to be there in every tournament that we play. The most important thing for me is to enjoy the process. I think I'm doing a great job in that.

It's my first time. It's going to be my many first times for me since this is my first year on tour. So yeah, just try to enjoy every tournament and obviously try to do my best.

Q. What do you think of Matteo?

RAFAEL JODAR: I haven't seen him a lot playing. Yeah, but everyone here is really good. If he has won already two matches, it's because of something.

He's a great player, so I have to recover well and try to get ready for that match because it's going to be very tough.

Q. What did you learn at the University of Virginia? Will any of those coaches be here or at the French Open?

RAFAEL JODAR: That was a great experience. I always say that was another chapter of my life. It was a really good year for me. They support me a lot. I still have contact with all the coaches and with the teammates. So yeah, it's great to see that they are still doing very well in college in the season. It was a great experience to be there last year.

Q. The coaches, will they be here or in Paris?

RAFAEL JODAR: I don't know. I haven't talked to them about this. Yeah, we'll see. If they have a chance and they don't have any college matches, maybe they can come here or in Paris, yeah.