It was a match that needed two days to find its winner. Rafael Jodar, 19 years old and seeded 23rd in his first professional Wimbledon appearance, defeated the experienced Pablo Carreño Busta 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Total playing time amounted to three hours and 43 minutes, spread across two evenings on Court No. 2.
Rollercoaster Ride: Carreño Busta Lets Lead Slip
The contest unfolded along familiar lines. Carreño Busta took command in the first set with a 6-3 win, underlining his experience. In the second, however, Jodar found his rhythm and levelled at 6-3. The 34-year-old Spaniard then hit back with a dominant 6-1 in the third set to move into a comfortable position. But Wimbledon lived up to its reputation as an unpredictable stage — darkness halted play on Wednesday evening with Jodar leading the fourth set 2-1 and Carreño Busta ahead two sets to one.
The overnight break proved to be the turning point. On Thursday, a transformed Jodar returned to court. He took the fourth set 6-3 to force a deciding fifth. For Carreño Busta, it was a painful case of déjà vu: at Roland Garros 2026 he had already failed to convert a two-sets-to-one lead against the very same opponent.
Fifth Set: Jodar Refuses to Waver
The deciding set opened with a moment of high drama. Jodar immediately carved out three break points at 0-40 on Carreño Busta's opening service game — but the veteran saved all three. Another player might have let his head drop. Jodar did not. He stayed aggressive, raised the level of his serve and found winners at the critical moments. The next four games all went to the teenager from Madrid, steering him firmly towards victory and a 6-4 closing scoreline.
The statistics paint the picture of an attacking player: Jodar struck 66 winners — well clear of Carreño Busta's 42 — and won 76 percent of his net points. The fact that he also produced 49 unforced errors reflects the high-risk, high-reward style he deployed with particular effect after the suspension. His first serve, won at a 75 percent clip, provided a reliable foundation throughout.
Historical Context and What Comes Next
With this victory, Jodar wrote a small chapter of tennis history: he is only the third Spanish teenager of the Open Era to reach the third round at Wimbledon, following Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. His only prior experience on the hallowed grass had been a junior quarterfinal appearance in 2024. The fact that he has now beaten Pablo Carreño Busta for a second consecutive time at a Grand Slam in five sets — following the Roland Garros 2026 quarterfinal — lends this result added significance.
In the third round, Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki awaits. The winner of that clash will then face defending champion Jannik Sinner or Jenson Brooksby in the round of 16. For Rafael Jodar, Wimbledon 2026 is far from over.
