Rafa Jódar Opens Tokyo Campaign Against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo
Spanish tennis player Rafa Jódar enters the 2026 ATP 500 in Tokyo to face Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in the first round on Thursday, October 1. Jódar arrives in Japan as one of the tournament’s seeded competitors following a strong run of team events, looking to rebound from an early exit at the US Open where he fell in straight sets to China’s Bu Yunchaokete.
Recent Form in Team Competitions
The 19-year-old from Leganés heads to Tokyo after building momentum in international team play. Eurosport reports that Jódar delivered a dominant performance at the Laver Cup, defeating Alexander Bublik 6-2, 6-3 to help Team Europe secure its sixth title. Prior to that appearance, he earned a convincing 6-0, 6-2 victory over Chile’s Cristian Garín during the Davis Cup qualifiers.
Qualifying Success for Vallejo
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo enters the main draw at world No. 56 after passing the tournament's qualifying rounds. The Paraguayan secured his spot in the opening round by defeating Japan’s Taro Daniel and Portugal’s Jaime Faria, setting up a clash with the Spanish youngster at the Ariake Colosseum.
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Schedule and Broadcast Details
The first-round encounter between Jódar and Vallejo is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, taking place in the final match slot at the Ariake Colosseum. According to tournament scheduling details, play will not begin before 10:30 a.m. Fans in Spain can watch the action live via Movistar Plus+ and the official ATP streaming platform Tennis TV.
Tournament Draw and Potential Next Steps
Should Jódar advance past Vallejo, the Spanish competitor faces a potentially challenging path through the lower half of the draw. Potential second-round and quarterfinal opponents include American players Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima, as well as Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. Meanwhile, compatriot Carlos Alcaraz anchors the tournament as the defending champion and primary favorite.
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