Carlos Alcaraz has identified new world No. 10 Rafael Jodar as "already a threat" even though the two Spaniards have never met on the tennis court. The world No. 3 is competing at this week's Paris Masters, an event where he has historically struggled, and arrives with confidence after winning the title in Vienna last week.
Jodar's Rapid Rise
Jodar, 20, reached a career-high of No. 10 in the world this week, setting a record for the fastest time between his ATP debut and his top 10 debut. The young Spaniard has enjoyed a stellar season, winning his maiden title in Marrakech, reaching finals at the Shanghai Masters and DC Open, and advancing to the French Open quarter-finals.
Despite never facing Alcaraz, who spent almost five months sidelined by a wrist injury, the pair have already linked up on court as teammates for Team Europe at the Laver Cup this year. They are also set to represent Spain together at the Davis Cup Finals later this month.
Alcaraz's Praise for Jodar
Asked whether Jodar could be a future threat, Alcaraz replied: "Well, he's already a threat, you know. It's unbelievable the way he's playing in his first year on the tour, broke a record of, you know, the amount of days he made it to since he broke the top 100 to the top 10, I think, or something, being up there."
The seven-time Major champion added: "I'm just really happy about him. Such a humble guy, great guy, going with his father as a coach, you know, all around and making great things. Really happy about him. He deserves to be in this position."
Alcaraz also expressed excitement about a potential first meeting: "Obviously it's great to have Spanish company in the top 10. We all enjoy his tennis, because every time that I watch him, it's a privilege, it's a joy, and just excited about facing him one day, you know, for the first time, practising with him, you know, in the tournaments. Yeah, but for sure, for now, that he already is, you know, to the future, he's gonna be a player to be aware."
Paris Masters Record
Alcaraz and Jodar could meet in the semi-finals in Paris, as both are in the bottom half of the draw. However, Alcaraz has never advanced that far at this event, with his best showing a quarter-final in 2022, when he retired with an abdominal injury.
Last year, the seven-time Grand Slam winner was stunned by Britain's Cameron Norrie in round one. Alcaraz admitted he has not always felt his best "mentally" at the final Masters 1000 event of the season, saying: "I don't know, to be honest. It's a bit, I'm gonna say, yeah, weird, because we've seen, you know, the rest of the tournaments. At some point, I have played, you know, good tennis here, the part that I played, I would say, was quarter-finals against Holger [Rune], and I haven't played my best tennis here."
He continued: "Any specific reason for that, I'm not sure. There were some years that I came here not feeling 100 per cent, especially mentally. But there were some years that I felt well, I felt I really wanted to be here playing at my best. I was excited about playing here, and ended up losing first or second round, not playing good tennis. So not any specific reason for that, but, you know, I'm pretty sure at some point I will do great in this tournament, I will feel the way that I want to feel in this tournament, and it will happen sooner than later."
