![\"Rafael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jodar-miami-2026-saturday.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Match Report
\n Jodar, with Top 100 breakthrough secured, marches on to R3 in Miami<\/p>\n
19-year-old races past Vukic, extends lead in Next Gen ATP Live Race<\/p>\n
March 21, 2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Rafael Jodar in action on Saturday at the Miami Open presented by Itau.
\n By Andy West<\/p>\n
At the time of the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau<\/a>, Rafael Jodar<\/a> was not even inside the Top 900 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Fast forward 12 months, and the Spaniard is in the midst of a breakout run at the hard-court ATP Masters 1000 event. <\/p>\n On Saturday, Jodar needed just 56 minutes to complete a 6-1, 6-2 second-round triumph against Aleksandar Vukic<\/a> at Hard Rock Stadium. The 19-year-old, who has now dropped just one set across four matches (including two in qualifying) in Miami this year, converted four of six break points he earned on Court 5. With his exploits in Florida, the teenager has already ensured he will break the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time on 30 March: Jodar is currently up 23 spots to No. 86 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. <\/p>\n Making Moves \ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n Rafael Jodar<\/a> advances into a career first ATP Masters 1000 third round with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Vukic @MiamiOpen<\/a> | #MiamiOpen<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/NLgswszaim<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) March 21, 2026<\/a> Jodar had not registered a tour-level victory prior to November’s Next Gen ATP Finals, but he now owns five wins for 2026 after also earning a main-draw match win at the Australian Open<\/a>, in Delray Beach and Acapulco, respectively, prior to Miami. The former University of Virginia college player, who only turned pro in December, is 129 points clear of second-placed Joao Fonseca<\/a> in the Next Gen ATP Live Race. He will take on 29th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry<\/a>, who overcame Zizou Bergs<\/a> 7-6(5), 7-6(3), in the third round. <\/p>\n Jodar was not only clinical on return against Vukic on Saturday in Miami. He was also cool under pressure on serve when required, and he finished his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with the Australian having saved all five break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. <\/p>\n With his emphatic win, Jodar capped a standout 24 hours for Spanish #NextGenATP talent after Martin Landaluce<\/a> upset 17th seed Luciano Darderi<\/a> 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4 on Friday night. Jodar’s fellow qualifier Landaluce will take on 14th seed Karen Khachanov<\/a> for a spot in the fourth round. <\/p>\n
\nYou May Also Like: The rise of Rafael Jodar: ‘He’s the most mature 19-year-old you’re going to meet’<\/a><\/p>\n