After overcoming a deficit in the opening game and taking the first set in a long tiebreak, Rafael Jódar was one step away from the semi-finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals and awaited the final result within the Blue Group to confirm his placement in the next phase. As published by the original media, this success came after the confrontation against Martín Landaluce on the final day of the group stage of the tournament, which was played on the hard court of the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
According to the source, the match between the two Madrid tennis players lasted one hour and twenty-four minutes and was characterized by a constant change on the scoreboard. After an even start, the first set was decided in a tiebreak as Jódar, who was down 1-4 and had four set points, dominated the deciding set with a 9-7 win. With this result, Landaluce was mathematically eliminated from the tournament, even though his performances in the second and third sets kept the tension in the duel high.
According to the original media reports, Landaluce’s attitude in the second set allowed him to rise with an aggressive approach, although Jódar scored a decisive break in the fourth game and only relinquished the lead after the conclusion of that set. Technically, Jódar opted for the firmness of his backhand, while Landaluce tried to assert his forehand throughout the game.
At the start of the third set, Jódar earned another break of serve and took a 2-0 lead. Landaluce managed to close the gap and restore parity on the scoreboard, making it 2-2. The final decision required a new tiebreaker; According to the original source, Jódar clearly controlled the tiebreak by winning 7-2, a result that allowed him to celebrate his second win of the group stage.
Jódar currently has two wins and one loss, placing him provisionally second in the group. According to the original media, the definition of the group depends on the agreement between Learner Tien from the USA and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer from Norway; Tien has one win and one loss, while Kjaer remains undefeated, increasing Jódar’s chances of a place in the semi-finals.
According to the original source, the tournament, which brings together the eight most outstanding U-20 players on the international scene, has developed into a platform where young talents try to establish themselves and make the leap into professional tennis. The Next Gen ATP Finals uses a special format of short best-of-five sets that ensures speed and forces constant tactical adjustment from competitors. According to the media, Jódar took advantage of this circumstance in his duel against Landaluce, took advantage of the decisive moments and won the decisive rallies.
As the media reports, the Jeddah edition was notable for both the parity between the tennis players and the opportunity to observe the emergence of future personalities. Jódar’s performance in this competition strengthens his profile as a candidate for the decisive rounds, while Landaluce ends his participation without victories in his three presentations and is eliminated.
King Abdullah Sports City continues to host this event, where the sustained pace of competition and innovative format underline the experimental nature of the youth tournament. The outcome of the final games will determine the final group of semi-finalists and open the final stages of an event that, as the source reports, is positioned as a starting point for the next generations of players in global tennis.
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