MUBADALA DC OPEN

July 31, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Press Conference

R. JODAR/L. Musetti

1-6, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on your win. You're into the semifinals in Washington. How does it feel?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, great feeling. You know, obviously being in my first semifinal on a hard court means a lot to me, and I'm happy about the result today, but I know there's still, you know, one more match tomorrow. So I have to keep going, you know, and get ready for tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I'm just curious, how much did your time in college do you think helped you develop as a hard-court player? It's almost all or 100% done on hard court in college. How did that time on that surface help you?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it was a great experience combining tennis and studies. I think it was a great choice for me, because you are not thinking about tennis, you know, 24/7.

So, yeah, I think it really helped me a lot to get that experience from college. Also, I met all the people from the team and the coaches and also people, you know, from the university that I still, you know, talk to them and text them.

So, yeah, it's great that I had opportunity to go to college and especially to Virginia, which is a great program, a great tennis program, and a great academic school. So, yeah, I took the best of it.

Q. I don't know how much you ever came up to Washington while you were in Charlottesville, but does this feel like a home tournament for you all at all here?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I know there are many people from UVA coming to the matches, some coaches, some teammates. Also people wearing UVA stuff. So it's great to see them, you know, enjoying the matches.

Yeah, I'm super happy that this tournament is close to the university and that I could, you know, prepare a couple of days before coming here there.

Q. The atmosphere you were a part of on John Harris Court, that court is not always full to that capacity. What was that like as far as the atmosphere you were a part of there today?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it was a great experience, you know, playing against Lorenzo, who is, yeah, one of the best players. He's done very, very well. He's coming back from an injury.

So, yeah, I knew that I had to do the things right, you know, from the beginning. I'm happy how I reset mentally from the first set, coming in the second, and in the third. Yeah, I'm happy about that.

Yeah, a lot of people, you know, are watching the match in that court, so yeah, it was a good crowd.

Q. You've had a lot of success early in your career, this being your first full year on tour. It doesn't always work out that way. I'm curious, what do you think has allowed you to have not only success in bursts, but you've sustained it over several months on different surfaces?

RAFAEL JODAR: I think I'm just doing the things right. You know, I'm going week by week, match by match, knowing that not because I've done very well or well in the past tournaments means that I'm going to do well tomorrow, for example, or in the next match.

I just go match by match and trying to be supported by a good team, in this case my dad and also the people who care about me and want the best about me. So, yeah, having that circle around me really helps me to face these type of matches.

Yeah, I'm also very happy to have them in my back.

Q. I heard someone say that if you did not qualify for the Next Gen event last year, that you might have returned to UVA for another year, is that correct?

RAFAEL JODAR: Sorry?

Q. You qualified for Next Gen last year, but what I heard someone saying is that if you didn't qualify for Next Gen, you might have returned for one more year at Virginia, is that correct?

RAFAEL JODAR: No, that was not the reason. I mean, yeah, it was a tough decision, because I was having, yeah, a great year in Virginia. I was supported by the coaches, but they always wanted the best for me.

So I talked to them apart from my dad, and I think the best choice at that time after, you know, having a good few tournaments in the last of the last year, I think the best choice was to turn pro.

But I still, you know, have many good memories about Virginia. They still support me along the way. When I leave, they want the best for me. They still call me. They come to the tournament, for example, this one.

That wasn't the reason. I mean, I talked to them, and they just understood it perfectly.

Q. I wanted to ask, did you ever talk to Fonseca about what it would have been like if you had been teammates, because that was close to happening potentially?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, we haven't talked about it, but yeah, I mean, I know he was committed to UVA. Yeah, it could have been a good team, a pretty good team.

I mean, sharing all the facilities and the tournaments with him, even playing against him once in Madrid, you know, he's a great kid. He's got a great team behind him. Also, his parents are very humble, which is very good.

Yeah, I think he's doing a great job, you know, on tour. Obviously I wish him the best.

Q. You're obviously going to face the winner of the Alejandro and Ben match. I wanted to get your perspective on both of those players, but also the opportunity to play at night in the main stadium tomorrow night.

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, it will be a tough match no matter who I play. So, yeah, I'll have to get ready, you know, try to watch a little bit if I get the chance.

Yeah, I know both are lefties. So, yeah, let's face it with the best attitude possible and giving 100% and trying to play my game.

Q. When you have a quick turnaround like this where you are playing again tomorrow night, do you typically watch the opponents that you are going to face the night before, or is tonight watching them unique for you as an experience?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, whenever I get the chance. Now I have to do a lot of things, as well. Yeah, if they're still live when I get to the hotel, maybe a little bit.

But I just try to focus on myself, trying to do the things that I can control. Yeah, I think the first thing is to sleep, to get some rest, and then if I get the chance tomorrow morning to watch it a little bit or to talk to my dad, that would be great.