#NextGenATP Jodar units Fritz showdown in Delray Seaside

Delray Seaside

#NextGenATP Jodar units Fritz showdown in Delray Seaside

Nakashima knocks out Cilic, defending champion Kecmanovic wins

February 18, 2026

#NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar is rising, and shortly.

The 19-year-old Spaniard cruised previous 21-year-old American Ethan Quinn 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday to succeed in the second spherical of the Delray Seaside Open, setting a showdown with prime seed Taylor Fritz.

One yr in the past, Jodar was exterior the Prime 900 of the PIF ATP Rankings and enjoying faculty tennis on the College of Virginia. However he’s as much as No. 112 within the PIF ATP Dwell Rankings and quickly approaching the world’s Prime 100.

Jodar, who competed in final yr’s Subsequent Gen ATP Finals, entered the Delray Seaside draw because of the ATP Subsequent Gen Accelerator, which gives elevated alternatives for gamers aged 20 and underneath. Now he’ll face a Prime-10 opponent for the primary time when he challenges Fritz, a finalist final week in Dallas.

To earn the chance, Jodar transformed six of the ten break factors he earned, in line with Infosys ATP Stats. The Spaniard received 16 of his 20 second-serve return factors (80%) in opposition to the 2023 NCAA singles champion.

Watch Prolonged Tuesday Highlights:

Fifth seed Tommy Paul wanted to work arduous to rally previous French lefty Corentin Moutet 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Paul wanted 11 match factors to shut out the match, letting slip 10 match factors at 5-3 within the decider earlier than efficiently serving for the victory.

“I do not really feel like I used to be feeling the ball superb right now, however I feel I competed very effectively,” Paul stated. “Clearly shedding that recreation at 5-3 within the third sucked, however I needed to bounce again and it is all about serving that final recreation out, proper?

In one of many matches of the day, seventh seed Brandon Nakashima clawed previous former World No. 3 Marin Cilic 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in a gruelling two hours and 13 minutes. The American leveled their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence at 1-1 behind 13 aces. Neither participant misplaced serve.

“Very happy. It’s undoubtedly not a simple match, particularly him coming off a semi-final run in Dallas. He’s a really harmful participant on any given day, so I knew I needed to carry my finest recreation and undoubtedly served rather well,” Nakashima stated. “Thrilling time. I at all times love, to begin with, being again within the U.S., and naturally enjoying on the arduous courts, so I’m wanting ahead to this stretch.”

Defending champion Miomir Kecmanovic additionally moved on with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph in opposition to Mattia Bellucci, whereas fortunate loser Adam Walton eradicated big-serving Canadian Gabriel Diallo 7-6(4), 6-3.

There have been two all-American clashes Tuesday in Florida. Sebastian Korda beat wild card Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 7-5 and qualifier Zachary Svajda surged previous Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6(4), 6-3.