ROLAND GARROS

May 27, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Press Conference

R. JODAR/J. Duckworth

6-1, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Rafael, I just wanted to ask you about your opponent today. You're now in this, everybody wants to beat you, every game is a hard game. This bloke is 75 in the world, Duckworth. What do you think about his quality and how difficult was it as the match today?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it was a really tough opponent. He played very well, especially from the second set. And the third and fourth, as well.

So I think he serves very well. He doesn't give you a lot of rhythm. You just have to put the return in and try to make him play.

But he's a great player. He serves very well, and he has great shots. I had to give my best to beat him today. Obviously I want to congratulate him for the match and wish him the best for the season.

Q. Congratulations on the win today. You said after the first round that this time a year ago you were getting ready for a challenger event. How do you think you would feel if someone at that time had said this time next year you'll be in the third round at Roland Garros?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, yeah. I mean, this year I played a lot of matches. I think I have grown a lot as a player, and I think this match also really, you know, gives me confidence for the next one.

So, yeah, I mean, it's been a great year for me. I'm enjoying every tournament, and every week that I'm playing on the tour is a new chapter for me. I take it as a learning year, because I think I can improve a lot, and I can, you know, do better things in the future, but always with with the same mentality, that, you know, I can be better in every tournament and in every match.

You know, so these matches are really helping me, you know, to get better, and especially when things are not going well like today, just try to be there mentally and be tougher than the opponent.

Q. A best-of-five on clay can be extremely taxing from a physical standpoint. Wondering how you felt on court, especially with the heat. You asked for the trainer, took a medical timeout for your leg. I was just wondering, was it something that happened during the match, or was it something that was there even before?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, I mean, it was during the match, you know. A lot of things happen, especially when you're playing the best-of-five sets.

So you just have to be there, you know, physically and mentally. Yeah, after the second set, I needed some treatment, you know, from the physio, and, you know, they are there to help the players. So I really appreciate, you know, that they were there for me, and that really helped me to get better physically for the third and in the fourth set, as well.

Q. How are you coping with all of the firsts that surrounds you, everybody getting excited about you? You have to carry on. It's not easy for a young man, but you appear to be taking it all in your stride.

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, I mean, I just try, you know, to enjoy, first of all. I think that's the most important thing when you're playing a Grand Slam. You just have to enjoy and many people come to watch the matches.

There are a lot of people cheering for both players, so I think that's what makes, not just this tournament, but the four Grand Slams special, that there are many people in the courts, supporting the players. Yeah, it's great to have that in the tournaments and to have everything for the players, as well. So that's good.