Jannik Sinner has been given a searching test by Alex de Minaur's sensational teenage conqueror at the Madrid Open, but finally ended Rafael Jodar's breakthrough adventure with the declaration: "What a player."
Sinner scrawled the tribute on the TV camera lens at the Caja Magica after having to summon up something near his best to repel the 19-year-old Spaniard, prevailing 6-2 7-6 (7-0) in Wednesday's quarter-final of the Masters 1000 event.
"He's an incredible player - Spain has one more incredible player. Look, it's good for the sport," conceded the world No.1 after Jodar gave him a stern challenge in the second set, before a dazzling finish from the Italian sealed the victory in three minutes under two hours.
Jodar, who has been thrilling his home city crowd in the absence of injured national hero Carlos Alcaraz, had already proved too hot for world No.8 de Minaur last week, the Australian taking just four games off him as an impressed Sinner watched on at courtside.
Jodar had then gone on to down fellow teen sensation Joao Fonseca, but a date with the seemingly unstoppable Sinner always promised a whole new world of discovery for the lad who's risen from No.687 in the world to No.42 over the past 12 months.
Next week Jodar will rise to No.34, with a potential seeding for the French Open in his sights.
Sinner had to save five break points in the second set and then unleash his best tennis to win the last 11 points in a row to secure victory in the tiebreak.
"He pushed me to the limit, he's an incredible player. I'm incredibly happy, it's been a very high-quality match," Sinner said, while suggesting everyone should give Jodar space and time to develop his massive ability without too much pressure of expectation.
"Don't push him too much, because sometimes it's getting into your head and it's very tough to get out.
"He's a very, very good kid - he has a great family behind him."
Jodar, who won his first tour title in Morocco this month, had threatened to pull ahead in the second set, but Sinner dug deep in two consecutive service games to stay unbroken and remain on course for an unprecedented fifth straight Masters title and his second clay-court crown after Monte Carlo.
"I take away a lot of positives," sighed Jodar. "I've learnt a lot from this match. There were times in which I competed head to head with him.
"I have a long road ahead to keep proving my level. I will take those positives with me."
Sinner's opponent in the semi-finals is Arthur Fils, the in-form Frenchman who outplayed Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-4 later on Wednesday.
