#NextGenATP star is into the third round at a major for the first time

Rafael Jodar continued his remarkable rise on clay at Roland Garros on Wednesday, when he moved high up the Open Era record books with another impressive victory.

The 19-year-old Spaniard held firm to defeat James Duckworth 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5 to move into the third round and extend his tour-level record on clay to 17-3. The only player who debuted in the Open Era with a better record than Jodar on the surface through 20 matches is ATP No. 1 Club member Andy Roddick, who was 18-2.

After claiming his maiden ATP Tour title in Marrakech last month, Jodar backed it up with a semi-final run in Barcelona and consecutive quarter-final appearances in Madrid and Rome. The early numbers of the #NextGenATP star, who is now into the third round of a major for the first time, also compare favourably with some of the sport’s all-time greats.

Twenty-two time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal and two-time reigning winner Carlos Alcaraz both went 13-7 through their first 20 tour-level matches on clay, while Novak Djokovic started 10-10 and Roger Federer was 6-14 after opening 0-11 on the surface.

Tour-Level Record on Clay Through First 20 Matches (selected players)

 Player  Record
 Andy Roddick  18-2
 Rafael Jodar  17-3
 Rafael Nadal  13-7
 Carlos Alcaraz  13-7
 Novak Djokovic  10-10
 Roger Federer  6-14

The 27th seed Jodar, who is seeded at a major for the first time after his breakout start to 2026, is just the fifth teenager this decade to reach the third round at Roland Garros, after Jannik Sinner (2020), Alcaraz (2021-22), Holger Rune (2022) and Joao Fonseca (2025). Jodar will next meet American Alex Michelsen, who overcame countryman and good friend Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

In his first meeting with Australia’s Duckworth, Jodar dug deep, rallying from a break down in the third set, during which he also took a medical timeout for treatment on his upper left leg, before coming through a tense fourth set.