Rafael Jodar, the teenager being hailed as the "new Rafa'' at Roland Garros, has saluted Australian veteran James Duckworth after being given a stern examination from the nation's new No.2 player.
But 34-year-old "Ducks'' was left frustrated he didn't take his chances to become the latest Aussie giant-killer at the French Open as the 19-year-old admitted he had to be at his best to subdue the world No.75 on Wednesday.
In the absence of swashbuckling titleholder Carlos Alcaraz and still missing its greatest of champs Rafa Nadal, Roland Garros has immediately taken to the young Spaniard, who's rocketed from world No.168 at the start of the year to No.29.
Jodar's already won his first clay-court tournament and blew Alex de Minaur away in Madrid last month, but found Duckworth a real handful before advancing to the third round 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 7-5.
"A really tough opponent, he played very well. He serves very well. He doesn't give you a lot of rhythm. You just have to put the return in and try to make him play," said the youngster.
"But he's a great player. He serves very well, and he has great shots. I had to give my best to beat him."
The compliments wouldn't have appeased Duckworth, who reckoned he played "a poor first set" and then missed the boat after winning the second-set tiebreak.
"I was 3-2, 30-0 in the third set, I'd got all the momentum, and then just four errors," he said.
"My game's probably the best it's been in five years or so, especially on clay, so that's a positive - but I'm a competitor, I want to win every match, so I had chances, and I'm a bit flat about that."
As for becoming Australia's No.2 in the live rankings, he shrugged: "Whether I'm ranked higher than Alexei Popyrin doesn't bother me. I want to be top 50 in the world."
Rafael from Spain. Ring any bells? đȘđžđŸ
â Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2026
Rafa Jodar is wide awake in his dream run at Roland-Garros đ„ pic.twitter.com/QzM4QeHuhE
Jodar, with the same modest, charming demeanour of Rafa mark one, also seems to have the same knack of saying all the right things.
"Obviously, I want to congratulate him for the match and wish him the best for the season," he said of Duckworth.
One suspects Jodar will be saying things like that to appease beaten opponents for years to come.
