Jódar Stuns Carreño Busta In Five-Set Wimbledon Thriller

Rafael Jódar announced himself on the global stage at Wimbledon 2026 with a spirited five-set victory over fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta. The teenager, making his professional debut at the All England Club, rallied from behind to win 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that stretched across two days.

The contest began on Wednesday but was suspended due to fading light, with Carreño Busta leading by two sets to one. When play resumed on Thursday, Jódar showed resilience, levelling the match in the fourth set before sealing victory in the decider. His triumph lasted nearly four hours, underscoring his stamina and mental strength.

Carreño Busta, a former world No. 10, had looked in control after taking the first and third sets. However, Jódar’s aggressive baseline play and improved serving turned the tide. He broke Carreño’s serve twice in the final set and held firm to close out the match. Statistics showed Jódar winning 73% of points on his first serve, a crucial factor in his comeback.

The victory carries added significance. Jódar has now beaten Carreño Busta in consecutive Grand Slam events, having also rallied from two sets down to defeat him at Roland Garros earlier this year. His Wimbledon success makes him only the third Spanish teenager in the Open Era to reach the third round, following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

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Speaking after the match, Jódar admitted to nerves but praised his ability to manage pressure in the deciding set. “It was a tough match. I adapted well to the situations and I’m happy with how I recovered,” he said.

Carreño Busta, meanwhile, was left frustrated. Despite his experience, he failed to convert his advantage and saw his hopes of progressing at Wimbledon dashed once again. The 34-year-old has struggled historically on grass, and this defeat continues his poor record at the tournament.

Jódar’s rise has been rapid. Just a year ago, he was ranked outside the top 500. Today, he sits inside the top 25 of the ATP Live Rankings, with 26 tour-level wins in 2026 alone. His next challenge will be against Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki, with the winner likely to face defending champion Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.

For Spanish tennis, Jódar’s emergence adds another exciting prospect to a lineage of champions. His ability to fight back under pressure and adapt to grass courts in his first professional outing suggests a bright future.

As Wimbledon continues, all eyes will be on whether the teenager can extend his run and emulate the feats of Nadal and Alcaraz. For now, his victory over Carreño Busta stands as one of the tournament’s early highlights.