Match Report
Rafael Jodar scored a win on his Paris debut, and increased his chances of qualifying for Turin as well.
Chris OddoNovember 2, 20263 minute read
Rafael Jodar increased his chances of qualifying for this year’s ATP Finals on Monday with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
“Trying to play my game,” Jodar said. “Every match is different, especially when you don’t know the tournament. It’s my first year here in Paris, so I’m super happy to get the first win – it wasn’t an easy match because Alejandro played very well.”
Jodar lost his first of five matches to Tabilo this year, but has since won the next four.
Current Race to Turin Standings
RankPlayerPointsThis Week1Alexander Zverev (GER)9,350Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Musetti or Hurkacz2Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)5,110Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Michelsen or Lehecka3Ben Shelton (USA)4,530Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Norrie or Arnaldi4Daniil Medvedev3,820Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Buse or Bergs5Flavio Cobolli (ITA)3,690Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Struff or Gea6Arthur Fils (FRA)3,535Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Jacquet or Machac7Frances Tiafoe (USA)3,390Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Halys or Fery8Rafael Jodar (ESP)3,234Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Ruud9Alex de Minaur (AUS)3,170Paris – +90 for 2R win vs. Rublev or Etcheverry10Novak Djokovic (SRB)2,900Paris – +40 for 1R win vs. Vacherot11Taylor Fritz (USA)2,860Paris – +40 for 1R win vs. Bonzi12Tommy Paul (USA)2,735Paris – +40 for 1R win vs. Rune13Jiri Lehecka (CZE)2,540Paris – +40 for 1R win vs. Michelsen
He used his strength on return to break Tabilo five times from 12 opportunities. Jodar won 77 percent of his second serves in the match.
What does Jodar, who has come so far so fast in 2026, want to improve in his game?
“If you want to be one of the best players in the world you have to have a very complete game, not having many ups and downs during the matches, which I think is something I’m doing great in these last tournaments of the year,” He said, adding: “I’m still young, I still want to improve. I want more in the coming seasons.”
The 20-year-old Spaniard, who entered the week in the last spot for qualification in the ATP Race to Turin standings, picks up 40 points for the win. If he outperforms the players behind him in the standings – Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Jiri Lehecka, Jodar will make his debut at the ATP’s season-ending championships in less than two weeks.
Note: Statistics from the weekend, provided by the ATP, had the numbers wrong, and mistakenly placed Alex de Minaur in eighth place. It has been rectified as of today’s media notes from paris.
So… after showing wrong numbers all week in their website, dozens of times on the TV World Feed and ATP Media Notes, the @atptour finally decided to correct their rankings, keeping Jodar ahead of De Minaur in the Race, which changes the scenarios for next week in Paris.
Props… https://t.co/AArMCSGqCJ pic.twitter.com/EeHYFG6tq0
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 1, 2026
Monday was a special day for the rising Spaniard, who played his first match as a Top 10 player.
Jodar smashed the record for fastest Top 10 debut in terms of time between his ATP main draw debut (January 20) and his Top 10 debut.
Jodar will face Casper Ruud in the second round in Paris.
The Fastest Top 10 Debut in History
Shortest Time Between Tour-Level Debut and Top-10 Debut in PIF ATP Rankings HistoryTour-Level Debut*Top-10 DebutDaysRafael Jodar19 January 20262 November 2026287Gustavo Kuerten1 April 19964 August 1997490Aaron Krickstein31 January 198313 August 1984560Carlos Moya12 June 199527 January 1997595Boris Becker24 October 19838 July 1985623Michael Chang24 August 198712 June 1989658
*Date at start of tournament.