American Tommy Paul also showed his grit to lift silverware on stateside courts.
Paris and more specifically Roland-Garros is the much-cherished final destination as the tennis world slides into action on clay.
Title winners are already starting to roll in with players transferring their skillset away from the hard courts. Let’s catch up on the key headlines.
This time last year Rafael Jodar was ranked world No.911. Well, 12 months on and the teenager is soaring as a first-time ATP titlist.
The Spaniard defeated Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to claim the trophy in Marrakech, Morocco.
“It’s incredible. I have no words, honestly, to describe this feeling right now,” said Jodar. “I’m super happy.”
The 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 triumph over No.4 seed Tomas Machac in the Last 16 provided the platform for the 19-year-old to become just the second man born in 2006 or later to clinch an ATP title, following in the footsteps of Joao Fonseca. Pretty good company.
Jodar, having only turned professional last December after two seasons of college tennis for University of Virginia in the USA, is now the sixth Spanish man in the Open Era to lift an ATP trophy before turning 20-years-old, joining the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya and Tommy Robredo. Pretty good company.
In doing so, Jodar rises to a career-high world No.57, however, this has been coming – the Spaniard qualified for the Australian Open and reached the second round. Over to the Miami Open, Jodar qualified again and navigated into the third round.
“It’s been a great year for me,” Jodar told atptour.com. “I think I did a great week on clay here in Morocco, so I’m very happy how the week went for me and I will try to make sure this is just the beginning. It has to give me motivation for the next challenges.”
Jessica Pegula has posted her name next to ‘2025’ and ‘2026’ on the Charleston Roll of Honour courtesy of a gutsy week in South Carolina.
The world No.5 was pushed the distance by her first four opponents, including a high-octane 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 semi-final victory against American prodigy Iva Jovic.
Into Sunday’s final and Pegula went back-to-back with authority, dismissing ever-improving Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-2, 6-2. Adding to her WTA 1000 title run in Dubai, Pegula has two titles in 2026, 11 in total, and leads the women’s tour with 24 match wins this year.
Also in the WTA ranks, Czech Maria Bouzkova returns to her exact career-high ranking of No.24 (last held in December 2022) off the back of a trip to Colombia.
Bouzkova collected a third WTA title as a result of a three-hour, 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-2 comeback across the net from Panna Udvardy in Bogota.
Three championship points down, no problem for Tommy Paul.
Deep into the decider with Roman Burruchaga, the stars and stripes superstar somehow prevailed 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in Houston for his fifth ATP title.
Paul’s home heroics – at the same venue he notched up a maiden ATP match win a decade ago in 2016 – means the world No.18 has now collected titles on clay, hard and grass courts.
Back in 2024, Mariano Navone fell just short in two ATP finals in Bucharest and Rio de Janeiro.
At the third time of asking the Argentine is now an ATP champion – back in Bucharest once again.
On Saturday, Navone erased two match points to reel in Botic Van de Zandschulp in a dramatic semi-final, prior to a absorbing 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win over Daniel Merida.
“I’m so happy right now. It’s my first ATP title,” said the world No.42. “There are a lot of emotions right now. When I was a kid, I dreamed of winning these tournaments on the big stages."
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
