Rafael Jodar has had quite the 2026 season, rising from outside the top 100 to a level that allowed him to play in the year-end ATP Finals. He will likely be a long-term staple in the top 10 on the ATP tour. But he isn't at Alexander Zverev's level. Not yet.
Zverev, who will finish 2026 as the ATP No. 1 for the first time in his career, also won the first two Grand Slams of his career. 2027 might be different with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner hopefully returning to full health, but the German can enjoy what happened this year.
That included a great start to the ATP Finals when he was at his most brilliantly metronomic with his serve, especially in the first set. He landed 88 percent of his first serves, missing on only four out of 23. He won 83 percent of those points and 67 percent of his second serves.
Alexander Zverev defeats Rafael Jodar to open the 2026 ATP Finals
It was a miracle that Jodar even had two break point chances, but Zverev saved both. Meanwhile, the German got a break of the Spaniard at 3-all and then was able to take the set 6-4. The match didn't feel that close, though.
In the second set, Zverev didn't wait as long to get a break, doing so in the third game. The 20-year-old Jodar pushed Zverev only slightly in the next game, but the German never faced deuce. He would continue to hold the rest of the set easily to take it 6-4.
Jodar didn't play poorly and hit as many winners as he did unforced errors; he just wasn't able to match his opponent's level. The match was a learning lesson for the young Spaniard, and one that will only help him as his career continues. He will have a better serve to go along with his massive forehand, and he will compete for high-end titles, but not yet.
He will need to learn his lessons the hard way, just as Zverev has had to. The German is playing better tennis at 29 years old than he was five years ago, which Jodar could follow and become elite. He has the skill set to do so.
Neither player is finished at the ATP Finals, of course, and each can make the semifinals later in the week. Rafael Jodar just has a more difficult path after dropping his opening match. Both will play another round-robin match on Tuesday.
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