ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Press Conference

R. JODAR/A. Michelsen

7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Rafa, well done. Through to the round of 16 in your first Roland Garros. What do you think made the difference in the end?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it was a really tough match. He played very well during the whole match, so I had to give my best to go through this round. So all credit to him as well, because he played an amazing level of tennis today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Your famous countryman, Rafael Nadal, only ever went five sets three times here in his career, and already now you've had to play a four-hour, five-set epic. What did it take to dig so deep and get over the line?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, I mean, it was a really tough match. I knew that he was playing very well at the end of the second set and especially at the beginning of the third set.

I knew that the match was still very long when I lost that third set. I knew that if I gave my best, you know, I had chances, and that's what I did.

The match is not over until you finish the last point, and that was my mentality during the fourth and the fifth set, and that was one of the reasons why I could turn around this match.

Q. This is a crazy Roland Garros. Even more since yesterday. For several days what I hear around me is that this young Spanish guy, Rafael Jodar, can make it, he can go very, very far. I wouldn't be astonished to have him in final, really. Are you conscious of that, first? Do you feel ready?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I mean, my mentality is always going by match by match. I think it was a really tough match. I could have lost today perfectly if I didn't win the fourth or even the fifth set.

My mentality is to recover well for my next match. It will be another tough match, so I have to get ready for it, try to give my best level, but all focus on the next match and not think farther than the next match.

Q. Who would you say your tennis role models have been the last few years? Are there any players that you've sort of modelled your game off or focused on as you developed your own style?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I mean, as you say, I try to develop my own style, but my role model in tennis when I was younger, it was Rafael Nadal.

Then in the last few years before I turned pro, I could say probably Carlos Alcaraz. You know, both from Spain, from the same country as me. So I think those were my two role models when I was growing up.

But, as I said before, I try to follow my own path, and I try to develop as a player, you know, but with my own spirit.

Q. There's a video I saw of you when you are leaving the court at some point in this match where you shove a ball girl. You pushed the ball girl out of the way. I'm wondering what happened there and why you did that?

RAFAEL JODAR: No, I mean, I finished the second or third set. I don't remember which set it was. She was walking backwards, and I think she -- yeah, I mean, I didn't push her or anything. I was telling my dad to give me the things that he was going to give me after a toilet break when I was coming back.

But, yeah, she was in the middle, so I think she was trying to get out of the way. She was going backwards, but I think she, like, fell, but not because I push her, because it was something for, like -- what do you call it? The mop or...

THE MODERATOR: The court cover.

RAFAEL JODAR: The court cover, yeah. It was right behind her. So when she was walking backwards, she fell with that.

But obviously I appreciate all the work that the ball kids are doing. I know it's difficult with the heat and the conditions to stay there, so I appreciate. I could never, you know, push a ball kid, so...

Q. But you did touch her with your hands, right?

RAFAEL JODAR: No, I didn't touch her. No, no, no. I could never do that.

Q. You mentioned before developing your own style. How would you describe your style of play?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I think I'm an aggressive player who likes to dominate the points, but I think here on clay, you know, you have to defend a little bit more. So I am trying to develop that game as well.

I'm now trying to develop all my weak points, like, for example, the forehand, the serve, the return. I think those are things that I still have to develop.

But, overall, I think I still have a margin of development huge, you know?