OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 11, 2026

Rafael Jodar

Press Conference

R. JODAR/A. Fils

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the press conference of Rafa Jodar. First of all, Rafa, congrats to your first ATP Master 1000 semifinal. Are you excited about all these breakthroughs coming in such a short time?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah. I'm happy about this tournament and how my level is going up. So, yeah, super happy to be in the first semifinal of a Masters 1000 in Canada.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Do you fully realize how special and impressive is your progression since a year?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I mean, I know I'm doing things right, with my dad and with all the people that are close to me, and I'm just trying to follow my own path.

I think that's the key and one of the most important things, to keep pushing and to keep improving, because there's still a lot of things that I have to learn on and off the court.

So, yeah, I'm just trying to not see a lot of, you know, like outside the tournament and focus on myself.

Q. Staying on that topic maybe a little bit, I'm just curious, what were your goals coming into the year if you think back in January? How quickly did you have to reassess those goals and was a semifinal in a Masters 1000 one of those objectives?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah, no. My goal is still the same, to improve, to discover all the tournaments in my first year on the tour and to play a lot of matches, if it's possible because of the results.

And that's it. I mean, not trying to go up in the rankings. I think that's more secondary, and that's something that it shouldn't be your primary thing and your goal.

So, yeah, my goal is to have fun on court and to enjoy all the tournaments that are new for me.

Q. Rafa, congrats on your win today. I wanted to ask about your return. How did you develop that shot? Was that something that you and your dad consciously put a lot of effort in when you were younger? And how did you kind of manage that shot through your career?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I mean, all the shots are very important, but especially on the hard court, I think the return is very important. So it's something we've been working on, as any other thing.

I think in these type of matches, in a quarterfinal of a Masters 1000, you have to try to give your best, try to play your game. I think I did a great job today, especially in the important moments and in the pressure moments of the match.

But I think you have to play your game and try to be relaxed, you know. And when the things are getting a bit close in the set, so that's I think what happened today, and I could see that during my game.

Q. Congratulations, Rafa. You are playing Brandon Nakashima next. Do you know him at all, and if so, what do you expect from your semifinal?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah. Very tough. Very tough player. If he's in the semifinals, it's because of something, because he's won matches here, and last week as well.

He's playing good tennis, so I'll have to get ready for that match and get my body ready, because it will be another tough match, as any other match here in a Masters 1000 where everyone plays very good and a high very level.

Q. You were supposed to play that match yesterday. Because of the rain, the game was postponed to today. How is this a challenge and affect your preparation?

RAFAEL JODAR: It's part of the game. Yeah, it's something that you have to deal with. But not just for me, for the opponent as well.

We couldn't play because of rain, and then in the first set when we were going to finish the first set, you saw rain. So it's part of the game. You have to accept the situation, try to, yeah, to be positive, to know that it could be a long match because of the weather conditions.

And, yeah, that's what happened. If it happens in future times, this match and this lesson will help me for future experiences.

Q. You shot up through the ranks quite smoothly throughout the year, but you also went deeper and deeper in bigger and bigger tournaments. Quarters in Paris, final in Washington and now the semis in this Masters event. Did you at any point brace for bigger obstacles or challenges? Has this gone more smoothly than you maybe anticipated?

RAFAEL JODAR: No. I think it's very tough. It's not because I am doing well in this type of events it's easy. No, it's super difficult. Starting from the first round, we could see it here in Montreal when I played my first match here that it was very tough.

And, yeah, I mean, here when you are these type of tournaments, everyone plays very good. It's very close, the results between players.

So, yeah, it's not that easy as it may look outside of the tournament. It's very tough.

Q. Rafa, a lot of athletes in different sports, once they become super big, they talk about how they miss going to like the grocery store or something so normal as this. Have you noticed in the past few months that you get more and more recognized on the street, and if so, did it happen here in Montreal, and how do you navigate that to realize that you might become a superstar sooner than you expected?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I think in tournaments it's different, because pretty much you go from the site to the hotel, hotel to the site. You have everything on the site. So you don't really need to go outside the hotel for anything.

But, yeah, in the free weeks or in the weeks that you don't have to play tournaments, yeah, it depends on where you are. But, yeah, I try to treat with respect all the people. That's a priority for me. If they want a signature, an autograph or a photo, it's totally fine, if they treat me with respect.

So, yeah, I'm totally fine with that, and yeah, I'll keep doing that if I make them happy, you know, because it's something special to see people happy when they get a picture or whatever with a player of whichever sport.

Q. You reached the final last week and you're in the semifinals here. That's a lot of tennis, and there's a lot of tennis to be played in the next month. I was wondering, did you make any changes in what you do on your days off when you're not playing so that you don't run out of gas for the end of the US Open?

RAFAEL JODAR: Well, I mean, I try to take care of every detail. I think it's important to take advantage of the days off. In this case, because of the rain yesterday, we are not going to have more days off.

So, yeah, it is what it is. Accept it, get back to, yeah, to another match tomorrow. And, yeah, take care of the body to prevent any injuries or anything that can happen to the body.

And, yeah, I know I'm playing a lot of matches, but that means that I am doing well, so I'm happy about that part.

And, yeah, go match by match without any pressure, and yeah, enjoying all the tournaments.

Q. Just one more on Nakashima. I think you played doubles with him once. Did you get any useful insight on the way he likes to approach the match from that experience? And you both attended the University of Virginia, but at different times. Did you cross paths at all?

RAFAEL JODAR: Yeah. We have good relationship, as you mentioned. And he went to Virginia, the school that I went last year, different times, but still a great connection in that university.

So, yeah, we played doubles last week, a fun experience because we don't usually play doubles.

And, yeah, it was fun, but I wouldn't say that that's going to help, like, tomorrow. It's just another match. Singles, totally different.

So, yeah, I'll try to be better -- do well in the match to have more chances to win.