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Rafael Jodar Advances to French Open Third Round
The 19-year-old Spaniard defeated James Duckworth in four sets at Roland Garros. Jodar improved to a 17-3 record on clay this season and will face Alex Michelsen next.
May 29, 8:48 AM·1m read1 source
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Rafael Jodar defeated James Duckworth 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5 in a second-round match at the French Open on Wednesday. The contest lasted three hours and 22 minutes on Court 7. Jodar, who turned professional this year after a brief NCAA season at Virginia, reached the third round in his second major tournament. He previously advanced to the second round at the Australian Open in January.
Jodar won his first ATP title in Marrakesh in April and later reached the semifinals in Barcelona and the quarterfinals in Madrid. His 17-3 clay record this season ranks second among ATP players in their debut year on the surface. In his first-round match, Jodar lost five games, the fewest surrendered by a Roland Garros debutant since Novak Djokovic in 2005.
Jodar will play Alex Michelsen on Friday.
A win would place him in the fourth round against either Pablo Carreno Busta or Thiago Agustin Tirante. "It's been a great year for me," Jodar said after the match. " Jodar is one of four Spanish teenagers to reach the French Open third round in the past 30 years, alongside Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo and Carlos Alcaraz.
