Sports · Tennis · 3 hrs ago
Rafa Jódar reaches the tennis top 10 in record time
Rafa Jódar will enter the ATP top 10 on Monday after Taylor Fritz lost to Valentin Vacherot in the Basel Open semi-finals.
The 20-year-old from Leganés, Spain, had already been knocked out of the tournament by Vacherot.
Jódar reached the top 10 just 287 days after his tour debut, which came at the Australian Open this year.
That is faster than the previous record of 490 days set by Gustavo Kuerten.
He is the 21st Spanish player to reach the ATP top 10 since the rankings began in 1973.
His next target is a place at the ATP Finals in Turin, held from 15 to 22 November.
Jódar is 129 points ahead of Alex de Miñaur in the race for the Finals, but the Australian can move ahead if he reaches the Vienna final.
Rafael Jódar is set to enter the ATP top 10 for the first time in the rankings due next Monday.
The 20-year-old Spaniard secured the milestone without playing after Valentin Vacherot beat Taylor Fritz in the Basel semi-finals.
Jódar reached the top 10 after 287 days from his debut on the professional circuit, according to the reports.
His rise sets a record for the shortest time from a circuit debut to the top 10, surpassing Gustavo Kuerten’s 490 days.
Jódar’s 2026 season includes an ATP title in Marrakesh and finals in Washington and Shanghai.
- Who
- Rafael Jódar, a 20-year-old Spanish tennis player.
- What
- He is set to reach the ATP top 10 for the first time.
- When
- The ranking milestone is due next Monday, after the Basel semi-finals on Saturday.
- Where
- The decisive matches were played at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland.
- Why
- Valentin Vacherot beat Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals, securing Jódar’s place in the top 10.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jódar made his debut on the ATP Tour-level main draw at the Australian Open.
Jódar won his first ATP Tour title at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakesh.
Jódar reached the Citi Open final, where he lost to Taylor Fritz.
Jódar reached the Shanghai Masters final and lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Valentin Vacherot beat Taylor Fritz in the Basel semi-finals, ensuring Jódar would enter the top 10.
- Age
- 20
- Projected ranking
- World No. 10
- Time from circuit debut to top 10
- 287 days
- Previous record
- Gustavo Kuerten reached the top 10 after 490 days
- ATP Tour title
- Grand Prix Hassan II, Marrakesh, May 2026
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