Jodar shaping up as tennis’ Next Big Thing and makes quite a debut at the French Open

19-year-old Spanish tennis player Rafael Jodar made a strong debut at the 2026 French Open, defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-1, 6-0, 6-4. Jodar's rapid rise includes a 16-19 win streak, a clay-court title in Morocco, and a jump from No. 707 to No. 29 in rankings. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek advanced with a win over Emerson Jones, though she faces challenges after a coaching change.