Jannik Sinner ends run of Spanish sensation Rafael Jodar in Madrid Open quarters

[p]The 19-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Jodar[/a] has taken the Tour by storm this clay season, winning a maiden ATP title in Marrakesh, and making the semi-finals in Barcelona and the quarter-finals in Madrid before he was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/jodar-r-OdngshVK/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=dzqDT5vJ"]stopped by the world number one at the Caja Magica[/a].[/p][p]This time last year, Jodar was playing college tennis for the University of Virginia and was ranked 687 in the world. He will crack the top 35 when the new rankings are released on Monday.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a] was seriously tested before he extended his current winning streak to 21 consecutive matches.[/b][/p][p]The world number one will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehecka-jiri/6PlgfXKR/"]Jiri Lehecka[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arthur-fils/IoIhUqIN/"]Arthur Fils[/a] in Friday's semi-final.[/p][p][b]"He pushed me to the limit. He's an incredible player. I tried to be ready as much as I could. First time playing against him,"[/b] said Sinner.[/p][embed guid="4a7eaa32-e201-4f6a-bae7-1c29b95e88b4" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2049527017079505079" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I'm incredibly happy. It has been a very high-quality match. Got lucky a bit in the second set, but also a little bit of experience. And so I'm very happy about today's match and obviously very happy to be the first time here in semis. It means a lot to me."[/b][/p][p]The first-set scoreline may have read 6-2 but it was far from a routine affair for Sinner, who found himself facing a young opponent who could match his firepower, particularly on the forehand wing.[/p][p]The Italian was tested in multiple service games, including a marathon one at 2-2, and had to save a pair of break points before he took a one-set lead in 44 minutes.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="e575335b-29e6-4be2-85e7-88c546aeee1a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="ae7bdb22-7a65-4026-a9f1-dd9b524d0f5e" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Leaning on the rowdy home support that included several Real Madrid stars, past and present, Jodar skirted danger at the start of the second set and put pressure on the Sinner serve.[/p][p][b]But despite his best efforts, Jodar couldn't convert any of the five break points he created as Sinner levelled for 4-4.[/b][/p][p]The set fittingly went to a tie-break, which was dominated by Sinner, who won the last 11 points of the match to advance to his first Madrid semi-final.[/p]