By Rafael Cores
07 Sep 2024, 17:23 PM EDT
QUEENS, NY – Spaniard Rafael Jodar was crowned US Open Junior champion in a close final against the number 1 in the category, Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, by 2-6, 6-2 and 7-6. The match was decided in a 10-point super tie-break in which the Spaniard was unstoppable and only lost one point.
The match was played on Court 11 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, one of the secondary courts. But as the match dragged on until the start of the women’s final and the men’s doubles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium had already finished, many spectators were already inside the venue and came to watch the juniors.
“I’ve never played in front of so many people,” the 17-year-old from Madrid said at a press conference after the match. “There were a lot of people watching the game. It was the only game that was being played at that time. I had to concentrate so as not to get distracted.”
The match was very close. After sharing the first two sets, the battle in the third seemed to fall to the Norwegian, a junior winner this summer at Wimbledon. But then Jodar was able to come back from 3-4 down with a break.
Curiously, the match had to be stopped because the awards for the Junior Women’s Final were being presented on the adjacent court and the PA system was disturbing the players.
The junior final, which is being played by the Spaniard Rafael Jodar, has to be stopped because prizes are being given away on the court next door. A mistake by the #usopen. There are a lot of empty courts. pic.twitter.com/0qUVjGG73Z
— Rafael Cores (@rafacores) September 7, 2024
Afterwards, Jódar was able to hold his serve to force the final tie-break. There he gave his rival no chance.
Nadal and Alcaraz, his idols
“Since I was little, my idol was Nadal. I have tried to do the same as him, although he is left-handed and I am right-handed,” confessed Jódar after winning his first Grand Slam title. “Now Carlos Alcaraz appeared. I had the opportunity to play with him in Madrid. He is not only good, he is also a very good person.”
Jódar has not yet decided on his future. He has been accepted by the University of Virginia team, which already has him on its roster, but the young man from Leganés has not confirmed whether he will move to the United States to continue his training.
“Now the important thing is to keep working,” he said. “My wish is to be a tennis player. But this, although important, is only a junior tournament,” he said.
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