MUBADALA DC OPEN

July 29, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Quick Quotes

R. JODAR/K. Nishikori

6-3, 6-2

Q. Well done. A series of firsts. A debut here in Washington, and a win over Kaye Nishikori. Tell us about playing a legend.

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it was fun. Kei is one of the best players, I would say, of all time. He's won so many titles. Yeah, it's a pleasure to play against him, you know, against a legend like Kei, but yeah, I knew I had to play my game. I think I did a great job.

(Indiscernible) something that I wasn't ready at the beginning of the match, so I'm happy about that.

Q. There was a really magical point early on in the second set where you were running from side to side, side to side. You're a tall guy. That point was so incredible. Your never-say-die attitude, where does that come from?

KEI NISHIKORI: It comes from all the weeks that I've been training in the preseason and in the weeks that I'm not playing tournaments, I try always to give 100%. So, yeah, yeah, it's my DNA. It's always giving everything on the court and that was an example in that point, an example of my game.

Q. Of course, you're going to have to do that again against Lorenzo Musetti. Another first for you. What do you know about Lorenzo?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, Lorenzo is a very, very tough player. I'll have to get ready and try to get ready as the best way possible because it will be a very tough match.