Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar caused a huge upset at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel on Monday, stunning world No. 11 Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-2 in their opening match.
Jodar, a 19-year-old wildcard entry, capitalized on Norrie’s struggles in a match that lasted just 56 minutes, marking his biggest win of his career to date.
Jodar’s breakthrough performance
The first set was tightly contested, with both players holding serve until Jodar made his move in the eighth game. After failing to break on his first attempt, the young Spaniard broke Norrie’s serve in the second try and then served out the set to claim a 6-3 win.
However, Jodar’s dominance was fully evident in the second set. He reeled off five games in a row, losing just two points in the process. Norrie, who was clearly out of sorts, had no answer to the barrage of powerful hitting from Jodar, and the second set ended 6-2 in a flash.
Jodar’s first ATP 500 victory
This victory was Jodar’s first in an ATP 500 event, marking a significant milestone for the teenager who had earned his spot in the main draw after impressing in earlier tournaments.
Earlier in his career, Jodar had reached the final of the Challenger 125 in Canberra and the second round of the Australian Open, where he qualified for the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time. He had also shown promise with solid performances in ATP Tour events, reaching the last-16 of the Delray Beach Open before falling to Taylor Fritz and securing a spot in the main draw of the Dallas Open.
The win over Norrie boosts Jodar’s career ranking, bringing him closer to breaking into the top 100 for the first time. His performance at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel is set to propel his career to new heights.
Norrie’s early exit
The loss marks a disappointing start to the tournament for Norrie, who has struggled with form in recent matches. He failed to respond to Jodar’s strong attack, and his inability to build on a solid first set ultimately saw him fall in straight sets.
Norrie will need to regroup quickly as he looks ahead to future events, while Jodar, fresh off the biggest win of his career, will now face either Grigor Dimitrov or Terence Atmane in the second round.
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