The 22-time Major winner enjoyed the battle between the two Madrid-born players, with Rafael Jodar taking on Martin Landaluce.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion in action 👀 #NextGenATPFinals | @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/L3y7pqpwDD
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 19, 2025
Jodar scored a 4-3, 4-1, 4-3 win in an hour and 23 minutes, although neither player secured a place in the semi-finals. Rafael served at 77% and defended his second serve excellently.
He saved four of five break points and delivered two breaks from three chances. He made the biggest difference in the tiebreaks, played with focus and endurance and achieved a remarkable victory in the season-ending event.
The younger player attacked and hit 31 winners and 16 unforced errors. Landaluce made too many mistakes from his forehand and struggled from the baseline. Martin denied a break point in the first game of the match.
Then they served well and secured a tiebreak. Landaluce had a huge chance to take it home. He led 6-3 and generated four set points. Jodar denied them and won 9-7 after 32 minutes.
The younger player got a boost and played flawless tennis in the second set. He made three great holds and made up for the rival’s mistake in the fourth game, grabbing a break and taking a 3-1 lead.
Martin made another forehand error in the first game of the third set, dropping serve and finding himself in an awkward position. Rafael saved three break points in the next three to hold the score at 2-0.
Landaluce again put pressure on the return in the fourth game and created a break to lock the score at 2-2. The set ended in a tiebreak and Jodar took control.
He grabbed a mini-break in the first point and landed a forehand down the line winner for 4-0. The younger player scored an ace for 6-1 and took the second match point with a great backhand down the line winner.
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