Rafa Jódar and Martín Landaluce, the towers of the Mutua Madrid Open

Without Carlos Alcarazout of the Mutua Madrid Open due to his right wrist injury, All the eyes and hopes of the Caja Mágica fans are on Rafa Jódar and Martín Landaluce. Since the retirement of Feliciano López -current director- and Fernando Verdasco, two local tennis players had not entered the main draw directly.

EARLY RIVALRY

The careers of Jódar and Landaluce have had many parallels since they met on the courts of the Chamartín Tennis Club. “I don’t remember exactly when we met because we were very young. We played in youth tournaments, the Spanish team championships with Chamartín, the Madrid championships… We spent a lot of time together,” explains Jódar in MARCA.

“I beat him more; then I started to distance myself and do better; and now Rafa is hitting an incredible sprint that motivates me. It’s a small rivalry, but healthy. He is a super good case for the kids that you don’t have to be in a hurry,” reflects Landaluce.

We play youth tournaments, the Spanish Team Championships in Chamartín…

Rafa Jodar

US OPEN CHAMPIONS

Martín was US Open junior champion in 2022. Two years later, his countryman also entered his name in the record. The two met last December at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah, with Jódar triumphing in the group stage.

At the conclusion of the last Miami Open, Jódar premiered in the top100. His generation partner entered the elite on Monday. “Seeing myself there is very special. Since we were little we want to be there. I have never had a ranking goal as such and now that I am in that position, I want to go further,” he warns.

It’s a small rivalry, but healthy

Martin Landaluce

They are number 78 and 79 on the list of Spaniards among the hundred best -Dani Mérida will be the one who makes 80- and this week they enjoy the best classification of their career. Invited by the Masters 1000 organization, they will debut against Jesper de Jong and Adam Walton.

HOUSE INSTEAD OF A HOTEL

Martín and Rafa’s routines change these days. While the rest of the competitors stay in one of the central hotels of the NH chain, one of the sponsors of the tournament, The two young people from Madrid prefer to go home to sleep.

THE INFLUENCE OF THEIR PARENTS

The tennis life of Jódar and Landaluce would not be understood without the figure of their parents, Rafa and Alejandro. The two oversee their children’s careers. In the specific case of the first, directly because he is his coach and he is forming a work team around him.

Martín has Óscar Burrieza and Esteban Carril as technicians, and it is his sister Alejandra who acts as his agent, alongside Albert Molina, from IMG, and who takes the reins of Carlos Alcaraz.

THE HIGHEST IN SPANISH TENNIS

Landaluce (1.93) and Jódar (1.91) are the two tallest members of the national Navy. Alcaraz, for example, measures 1.83 meters compared to Alejandro Davidovich’s 1.80.