Rafael Jódar defeated Pablo Carreño Busta 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in the round of 16 at the 2026 French Open to reach the quarter-finals on Sunday [1, 2, 3]. The 19-year-old staged a comeback from two sets down in a match lasting three hours and 41 minutes [1, 2, 3].
Jódar turned professional late last year and has rapidly risen in the rankings. He was ranked 707th in the world a year ago but will jump to around No. 22 after this tournament [1, 2, 3]. His impressive clay season also includes a title in Marrakesh, a semifinal appearance in Barcelona, and quarter-final runs in Madrid and Rome [1, 2, 3].
The match featured a medical timeout for Carreño Busta, who is 34, to treat a right shoulder injury [1, 2, 3]. Despite his injury, Carreño Busta won the first two sets, but Jódar turned the match around with dominant play in the final three sets [1, 2, 3].
Jódar won his second consecutive five-set match at the French Open, having defeated Alex Michelsen in the previous round [1, 2]. Many top contenders, including world No. 1 Jannick Sinner, exited early from the tournament [1, 2, 3]. The event had seen a week of extreme heat before cooler and damp conditions returned on Sunday [3].
Jódar will face second seed Alexander Zverev or Jesper De Jong in the quarter-finals [1, 2, 3].
