Rafa Jódar and a chance at the cheapest Masters 1000 in history: "It's the fault of the two weeks, it's too much"

Rafael Jódar, the Spanish tennis player, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Montreal Masters 1000 after defeating Czech qualifier Jiří Lehecka with scores of 6-3 and 6-3 on Saturday. The match took place at the IGA Stadium in Montreal, Canada, following a delay caused by afternoon rain. Jódar, who hails from Madrid, dominated the evening session and secured his spot in the next round of the tournament, which is held on hard courts. The Montreal Masters 1000, one of the prestigious tournaments in the ATP calendar, has seen a notable absence of top-ranked players this year due to injuries and fatigue. Among those missing are Jannik Sinner, who is recovering from knee issues, and Carlos Alcaraz, still healing from a wrist injury. Alexander Zverev, a former world number one, was eliminated in his opening match, while Novak Djokovic, who has largely focused on Grand Slam events, did not participate. Other high-profile names such as Felix Auger-Aliassime, who has been dealing with back pain since Wimbledon, and several other top contenders also failed to reach the second round. This lack of star power has led to the Montreal tournament being dubbed the cheapest Masters 1000 in history. Only one of the top ten ranked players, Ben Shelton, reached the eighth round. The situation reflects broader challenges faced by some of the larger tennis events, particularly those that have adopted a two-week format. This extended schedule has made it increasingly difficult for players to attend all major tournaments, especially before the US Open. Players like Zverev have pointed out that the current calendar makes it nearly impossible to compete consistently, affecting both performance and attendance. Despite these challenges, the Montreal Masters has become an unexpected opportunity for less-established players. In recent years, four different players have won their first Masters 1000 title here: Pablo Carreño (2022), Jannik Sinner (2023), Alexei Popyrin (2024), and Shelton (2025). This year could continue the tradition, with the field featuring few seasoned winners and many underdogs. Jódar, a 19-year-old from Spain, stands out among them. He has already defeated Corentin Moutet and Lorenzo Musetti during the tournament and is now set to face Lehecka in the quarterfinals. Jódar's path to the quarterfinals has not been easy. His section of the draw includes potential future threats such as Arthur Fils and Luciano Darderi. However, he has shown consistent form throughout the tournament, adapting quickly to the conditions on the hard courts of Montreal. Known for his aggressive playstyle, Jódar has demonstrated the ability to perform under pressure, even against higher-ranked opponents. In a post-match interview, Jódar emphasized the importance of focusing on each match individually rather than thinking too far ahead. “Gaining a Masters 1000 title is a big goal, but I’m playing one match at a time,” he said. “I need to concentrate on my next game because thinking beyond that doesn’t help either me or anyone else.” His determination and focus will be crucial as he prepares to take on Lehecka in the quarterfinals. The outcome of this match will determine whether Jódar continues his impressive run in Montreal.