Rafael Jodar is a star.
The Spanish teenager only turned professional at the start of this year, yet he has risen 155 places to world number 15.
Jodar’s remarkable rise continued on Saturday with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 victory at the Canadian Open against world number 12 Jiri Lehecka.
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The 19-year-old has now qualified for three consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-finals, following successful campaigns in Madrid and Rome.
In defeating Lehecka on Saturday, Jodar has moved one step closer to usurping a four-decade-old record held by Boris Becker.
Rafael Jodar can break Boris Becker’s 41-year ATP rankings record
Jodar first entered the ATP top 100 on March 30, rising from 109th to 89th following his run to the quarter-finals in Miami.
The youngster has steadily risen up the rankings over the past five months, and now has the opportunity to enter the top 10 for the first time.
If Jodar wins the Canadian Open, he will enter the top 10 just 140 days after cracking the top 100.
As per reliable tennis journalist Bastien Fachan, Boris Becker currently holds the record for the shortest time between breaking the top 100 and cracking the top 10.
Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, first entered the top 100 on December 10th, 1984, rising from 108th to 55th.
The German made his top 10 debut on July 8, 1985, after becoming the youngest man in Open Era history to win the Wimbledon Men’s Singles title.
Becker entered the top 10 just 210 days after making his first appearance in the top 100.
Rafael Jodar’s record against Arthur Fils
Arthur Fils, from France, is widely recognised as one of the brightest young stars on the ATP Tour.
The Frenchman has enjoyed a superb campaign since returning from a long-term back injury in February, beating the likes of Jiri Lehecka, Jakub Mensik and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
He also defeated Rafael Jodar in his first match against the Spaniard, triumphing 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the Barcelona Open quarter-finals.
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Jodar had his revenge three months later, beating Fils 7-6, 6-3 en route to the Washington Open final.
Jodar and Fils are set to play each other for the third time in the Canadian Open quarter-finals.
The winner of their contest will play Luciano Darderi or Brandon Nakashima in the semi-finals.
