Can Rafael Jodar become the star attraction at Roland-Garros in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz? It's a question that has tennis fans buzzing with excitement. With his recent surge in rankings and impressive wins, Jodar is certainly a player to watch. But can he fill the void left by his fellow Spaniard, who is currently out with an injury?
Jodar, who was once ranked outside the top 900, has skyrocketed up the rankings. He's won three ATP Challenger titles in 2025 and secured tour-level wins at the Australian Open, Miami, Acapulco, Dallas, and Delray Beach in 2026. This rapid rise has made him one of the biggest stars in tennis, and there are several reasons behind his success.
One of his strengths is his serving. Jodar has improved his serving game, and it's paying off. But what's even more impressive is his ability to turn into one of the best returners in the sport. This combination of serving and returning has made him a formidable opponent.
His success is also attributed to his coaching team. Jodar is coached by his father, Rafael, who tends to be the only person in his box during matches. This simple setup has been working for him, and it's a strategy that some experts admire.
Former British doubles star Colin Fleming praises Rafael's approach, saying, 'He's not getting caught up in any fanfare or any hangers on. Just a small team but I wouldn't be surprised to see his team grow slightly as he develops more in the elite level. Maybe a fitness trainer, maybe a physio. But he looks like someone who is going to keep it simple and I like that.'
Marion Bartoli, a former Wimbledon champion, also supports this approach. She believes that Jodar should add a fitness coach to his team, as he sometimes shows signs of fatigue during intense matches. However, she acknowledges that his current setup is working for him.
The simplicity of Jodar's coaching team has caught the attention of four-time Grand Slam winner Jim Courier. He says, 'I like the simplicity of just having the dad in the box. No fuss and coming out and laying it down. Tennis keeps throwing some goodness at us in the absence of the 'Big Four' and Venus and Serena past their primes. This is spectacular.'
Jodar's success continued at the Italian Open, where he reached the quarter-finals and is now ranked inside the top 30. This puts him in a strong position heading into the French Open, where he will be a key player in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz.
His physicality and athleticism, combined with his improved serving and returning, make him a formidable opponent. As Bartoli says, 'His strengths are his physicality and he is very, very tall but he moves extremely well. He's part of that new generation of players that are very lean, very tall but can move extremely well, that are very good athletes.'
The question remains: how far can Jodar go? Fleming and Bartoli both believe he has the potential to reach the top 10 in the world. Fleming says, 'I think certainly into the top 10 because he's capable of mixing it with the top players in the game.' Bartoli adds, 'I think we will see him in the top 10 very quickly. In two years time he can reach that range between seven and 10 in the world.'
As Jodar continues his ascent, tennis fans can't help but wonder if he has what it takes to become the star attraction at Roland-Garros. With his talent, determination, and unique coaching setup, he certainly has the potential to make a lasting impact on the sport.
