Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa Jódar qualify for the ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa Jódar join forces at the ATP Finals, marking the fourteenth time a pair of Spanish players features in the season-ending tournament.

The qualification ends an eleven-year drought for Spanish duos at the year-end championships, following a historical lineage that dates back more than five decades.

Early Spanish Pioneers at the Masters

Manolo Orantes and Andrés Gimeno became the first Spanish pair to qualify for the tournament in 1972. It took another twenty-two years for the feat to repeat. Sergi Bruguera and Alberto Berasategui reached the event together in 1994.

Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils & Rafael Jodar Press Conference — Tennis TV

Bruguera returned three years later alongside Carlos Moyá. In 1998, Moyá partnered with Álex Corretja at the tournament in Hannover. Albert Costa also travelled to Hannover as a reserve player and contested a single match against Greg Rusedski.

Record National Representation in Shanghai

Spanish men’s tennis achieved a record-setting presence in 2002 during the round-robin stage in Shanghai. Moyá, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Costa all qualified for the elite field. Moyá and Ferrero secured dual qualification again the following year in 2003.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Flavio Cobolli Full Practice Set — Tennis TV

Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo formed the national duo in 2006. Nadal returned in subsequent years alongside David Ferrer in 2007 and Fernando Verdasco in 2009. Nadal and Ferrer also qualified together in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015.

The 28-Year Title Wait

Spain is attempting to capture its first Masters singles title since Álex Corretja defeated compatriot Carlos Moyá in the 1998 final in Hannover. That victory remains one of only two tournament titles won by Spanish players, alongside Orantes’ victory in 1976. The 1998 summit clash stands as one of seven all-Spanish matches recorded since the tournament began in Tokyo in 1970.

'I've been chasing it a long time' – Carlos Alcaraz on the ATP Finals trophy｜Turin｜Tennis｜Spain — CGTN Sports Scene

“The year has been like a rollercoaster because I started winning, I had to stop for half the year and I have won again,” Alcaraz said. “Right now, I give myself a 7.5, but what happens in Turin and the Davis Cup will determine that number,” the winner of seven major titles said.

Next Steps in Turin

The campaign continues in Turin as both players prepare for their opening matches at the year-end championships. Competition runs through the group stage with knockout rounds following the round-robin fixtures.