Nadal on Alcaraz, Jodar and Spanish Tennis

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

Rafael Nadal is optimistic about the future of Spanish tennis, but asserts it all comes down to one essential element.

How much improvement can young Spanish stars Rafael Jodar, 19, and 20-year-old Martin Landaluce make in the coming years?

King of Clay Nadal told the Spanish media he’s confident reigning Australian Open and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, who withdrew from Roland Garros and Wimbledon while recovering from a right wrist injury, will be back strong.

The questions are: how high are the ceilings for Jodar and Landaluce and how hard are they willing to work to achieve their potential, Nadal said in comments published by EFE.

“[Rafael Jodar] has had a very strong progression in this last year, going from almost 900 to 20 and something in the world, I don’t know exactly the numbers,” Nadal said. “Whoever has a great capacity is capable of doing something like that.

“Carlos [Alcaraz] will come back well from injury because he’s too good not to be like that,” Nadal said. “Martín Landaluce is taking steps forward and is from the academy.

“In the end, young people always depend on the same thing, the ability to improve. Carlos is already one of the best players in history, the rest we will have to wait to see the ability to improve daily.”

Spain currently has seven men in the ATP Top 100 led by No. 2 Alcaraz, No. 22 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, No. 23 Rafael Jodar, No. 44 Jaume Munar and No. 58 Martin Landaluce.

Italy, led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, currently boasts eight men in the Top 100, while the United States has 10 players in the Top 100, led by No. 5 Ben Shelton, No. 9 Taylor Fritz and No. 19 Learner Tien.