Rafa Jódar dedicates Madrid Open win to Jude Bellingham, calls him a role model
Rafa Jódar celebrated his first victory at the Mutua Madrid Open by dedicating the win to Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who attended the match in person at the Caja Mágica on April 22, 2026.
The 19-year-old Spaniard secured a hard-fought 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 win over Netherlands’ Jesper de Jong in his Madrid Open debut, marking his first tour-level victory on home soil. After the match, Jódar revealed that Bellingham’s presence in the stands had been a surprise and a source of motivation.
“When the match ended I had the opportunity to talk. To see how he was doing, if he liked tennis. Seeing a person like Jude Bellingham in the stands, who could have been watching your match, is a tremendous joy,” Jódar said during his post-match press conference.
Jódar explained that he had known Bellingham for two years, having first met him after winning the US Open junior title. “I had the opportunity to meet him two years ago. I think when I won the US Open junior they invited me to the stadium to meet the players. They are incredible people. I am very grateful that they came to support me and to watch some tennis,” he added.
The Madrid native went further in praising the English international, calling him both a personal idol and a model for his own development. “Bellingham is a model for me. He is my favorite player,” Jódar stated firmly.
He described the emotional impact of seeing Bellingham at the match, noting how it made the occasion perceive different from other tournaments. “Playing here at home has been different. An idol since childhood. I have watched all your matches. For someone like him to come see your matches means a lot,” Jódar said.
The victory came after Jódar had initially struggled with nerves and pressure in front of his home crowd. He lost the first set 6-2 but fought back to win the next two sets, crediting his ability to stay composed and adapt during the match.
“I think De Jong was doing things very well. It’s not just you on the court — there’s another rival who wants to win just as much as you and wants to do things well. He was playing very well, but I accepted the situation and tried to keep playing my game. In the second set, the opportunity came that I could break. That led to a third set that was decided by very small details,” Jódar analyzed.
Reflecting on his early career, Jódar acknowledged he is still learning how to manage emotions and conduct himself on the ATP Tour. “It’s my first year still on the circuit. I am developing and also learning how to behave during matches. It’s true that these two tournaments in Spain are special for me due to the fact that We find many people I know who come to see me, but in general I am a calm person. I don’t like to express my emotions much. But yes, there are times in the match when there’s nothing else to do but express those emotions. I think it’s good not to keep everything inside and sometimes, when you win an important point, to shout and try to get the crowd with you,” he confessed.
Jódar’s win in Madrid followed his first professional title, which he claimed at the ATP 250 event in Marrakech on April 5, 2026, where he defeated Argentine Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 6-2 on clay.
The Mutua Madrid Open, held at the Caja Mágica, is one of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events on the men’s tennis calendar. Jódar’s performance marked his debut at this level in the Spanish capital, where he had previously only competed in lower-tier tournaments.
Looking ahead, Jódar will continue his campaign at the Mutua Madrid Open, aiming to build on his debut victory as he seeks to establish himself among the sport’s rising stars.
For updates on Rafa Jódar’s progress and other tennis news, follow Archysport’s dedicated tennis coverage.
