Rafael Jodar boosts ATP Finals hopes with first-round win in Paris

Rafael Jodar of Spain chases down a shot from Flavio Cobolli of Italy during their Round of 16 match at the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason on Aug. 19, 2026. Rafael Jodar has skyrocketed up the ATP rankings in 2026. The 20-year-old Spaniard began the year ranked No. 168 in the world and is now on the verge of earning a spot in the eight-man ATP Finals in Turin, Italy later this month. Jodar took a step forward in that pursuit by defeating Chile's Alejandro Tabilo, 6-2, 6-3 on Monday in the first round of the Paris Masters. Jodar is currently ninth in the Race to Turin but would move up because of Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from the ATP Finals. However, veterans Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz are just behind Jodar as a top field competes in the last-chance event in Paris. Tabilo actually performed better than the final scoreline suggested, but Jodar's ball-striking was too good. The Spaniard served 10 aces (no double faults) and posted a winners-to-unforced-errors ratio better than 2:1 (34-16). "(I had) the same mindset and mentality I have had this first year," said Jodar after the match. "I tried to play my game, but every match is different and especially when you don't know the tournament, because it's my first year here in Paris. I'm enjoying it and am happy to get the first win." Tabilo grabbed an early 2-1 lead with a break in the third game, but Jodar broke right back at love and won the final five games of the first set. Leading 4-3 in the second set, Jodar won a 16-point game on Tabilo's serve and captured the match in 76 minutes. A tough scene unfolded late in the day, as Canadian Denis Shapovalov and Russian Karen Khachanov battled into a third set. Shapovalov took a 4-1 lead, but grabbed the back of his leg while lunging for a ball to his forehand side. He tried to continue, but did not go after a wide Khachanov serve and walked to the net to concede. Khachanov advanced 6-3, 6-7 (6), 1-4, retired. In other key first-round matches, Italy's Lorenzo Musetti defeated Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10); Great Britain's Cam Norrie edged Italy's Matteo Arnaldi, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; and Norway's Casper Ruud ousted Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 6-3, 6-2. Italy's Flavio Cobolli withdrew due to injury, but, at No. 6 in the Race to Turin, he still stands a good chance to reach the year-end tournament. Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays Monaco's Valentin Vacherot on Tuesday. Djokovic, a record seven-time ATP Finals champion, needs a deep run in Paris to keep alive his hopes of making a 17th appearance at the season-ending tournament. Vacherot just won a title in Basel on Sunday. --Field Level Media