ROLAND GARROS

May 31, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Press Conference

R. JODAR/P. Carreno Busta

4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Rafa, congrats. How did you turn it around today after dropping the first two sets?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it was a really difficult match. Pablo played very well during the first two sets, and yeah, I mean, I'm super happy with the comeback, and to keep pushing and believing until the last point.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Pablo has just told us that he felt that you were ready to compete with Carlos and Jannik very soon, or didn't say very soon, he said it would happen. He didn't know why, but it would happen. This tournament, Roland Garros, rises the hype and the excitement around your profile and your game. How do you react to this statement by Pablo?

RAFAEL JODAR: I mean, he's a great player, you know. He has done great things on tour. I think he was a top 10 at one point, so I want to obviously congratulate him for the match. Not just for the match; for his career. He has been, you know, a reference for the Spanish tennis.

You know, it's difficult when there are, you know, these best players, you know, like Rafa and Carlos, but I think we have to give him credit for everything he has done and he has achieved.

So it's great, you know, to share a court with him and to have the chance to play against him here in the French Open in the fourth round.

Q. I guess at the beginning of the year, a Grand Slam quarterfinal would have been a long way away from where you would expect to be. I just wonder, have you stopped to think about everything that you're achieving, are or are you trying to just stay in the moment?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, I'm trying to enjoy the moment, you know, like I was talking to my friends and to my family like before the match. You know, it's a gift, like, to play a fourth round in a French Open, you know. So my goal was to enjoy, you know.

Obviously you always want to win and to give your best tennis, and that's what I did. I think I did a great job, you know, accepting the things how it came to me today.

Pablo was playing a great level of tennis in the first two sets, and I accept it. Then I had my chance, and I think I rise to my level in the next three sets. So very happy with how the week is going and the season, as well.

Q. Some people say that if you are winning, you don't feel tired. But you have had two long five-set matches. Do you feel at all tired physically or mentally?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I mean, no, I think I'm just trying to enjoy the moment. I'm not feeling -- I mean, obviously I have played a lot of, I mean, four matches in this tournament. Some of them were, like, longer than the first two. Even the second one was, you know, a long match.

So I'm just trying to recover well. These days off are, like, really helping me, you know, to have a day off between matches. It's great to get the body ready, and yeah, I'm trying to recover well, but I'm not tired (smiling).

Q. I imagine growing up you watched Sascha play in a lot of big matches in big tournaments against other big players. What is it like to walk onto court for the first time with someone you have been sort of watching on television for a long time?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, I mean, it's my first year on tour, so I'm just trying to enjoy the process. You know, it's like everything is new for me. I'm going to learn a lot. I think this year will give me a lot of experience. You know, like, there are things that I don't know because it's obvious that it's my first year, so I'll miss some things. But, you know, walking into these big courts, it feels very special, you know.

And I'm super grateful, you know, to be part of one of these matches against one of, you know, the greatest players from Spain, like Pablo, and to be part of that match is very special for me.

I'm super grateful for the people that were supporting me in the box today, obviously my dad and all the people that came to support me.

Q. We have now had 29 five-set matches. We're heading towards a possible record at Roland Garros. So many players coming back from two sets down. You're relatively inexperienced in that area, but did you still really believe that you could win from two sets down today?

RAFAEL JODAR: I mean, I knew that I had my chances, like the match is not over until you finish the last point. So that was my mentality today.

I tried to accept the things -- yeah, I knew Pablo was playing a great level of tennis in the first two sets, even though I served very well the first one, but yeah, he played great. He deserved to win those two first sets.

I think one of the important moments of the match was when I was down I think 4-0 in the second set, and I still, like, had belief that I could win that second set. I'm pushing, you know, to beat me in the -- it was 6-4, so not let me go in that second. I think that was one of the important moments of the match.

So, yeah, super happy how I managed the important moments and the pressure moments in the match, because there were a lot. And they were, like, sometimes where other players just have accepted that they reach the fourth round, it's great, you know, like, great experience, you know, and I'm two sets to love down, so let me go, you know.

But I had the belief that I could give a little bit more, and fortunately I won the match.

Q. Just specifically on the matchup with Sascha, what you kind of think are the keys to that match and also whether you think of him as the favorite to win the title here?

RAFAEL JODAR: I mean, he's a great player obviously. What he has done is amazing. You know, one of the best players right now on the tour.

I'll just try to give my best, try to recover well, because I have played a lot of matches. So I think this day off tomorrow will happen to get ready for that match.

And enjoy, you know, because it's a quarterfinals, you know, match against one of the best players in the world, so try to enjoy the opportunity and take a lot of learning, and obviously go with everything and with the belief as today and as the other matches that if I do the things well, I can take the win, as well.