{"id":2089613,"date":"2026-08-12T11:47:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T08:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2089613"},"modified":"2026-08-12T11:47:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T08:47:29","slug":"ben-shelton-and-andy-roddick-agree-over-rafael-jodar-ahead-of-possible-canadian-open-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2089613","title":{"rendered":"Ben Shelton and Andy Roddick agree over Rafael Jodar ahead of possible Canadian Open showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Ben Shelton and Andy Roddick agree over Rafael Jodar ahead of possible Canadian Open showdown<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/richie-mills\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Richie Mills                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"12 Aug 2026 12:47 PM\" data-ps-date=\"12 Aug 2026 12:47 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1786535249\"><br \/>\n                            12 Aug 2026 12:47 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/ben-shelton-andy-roddick-agree-rafael-jodar-canadian-open\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fben-shelton-andy-roddick-agree-rafael-jodar-canadian-open\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fben-shelton-andy-roddick-agree-rafael-jodar-canadian-open\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fben-shelton-andy-roddick-agree-rafael-jodar-canadian-open\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Fben-shelton-andy-roddick-agree-rafael-jodar-canadian-open\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Ben Shelton and Andy Roddick agree over Rafael Jodar ahead of possible Canadian Open showdown\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Shelton-Jodar-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Ben Shelton and Rafael Jodar at the Canadian Open\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Ben Shelton has talked up teenager Rafael Jodar                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Ben Shelton and Andy Roddick are both hugely impressed by Rafael Jodar\u2019s meteoric rise amid his Canadian Open run.<\/p>\n<p>Following the 19-year-old\u2019s straight-set win over Arthur Fils on Tuesday, the Spaniard is now into the semi-finals in Montreal for the first time and sits 11th in the ATP Tour rankings.<\/p>\n<p>The teenager is seventh in the ATP Race and should Jodar win his last-four clash with Brandon Nakashima, he could break the record for the shortest time between reaching the top 100 and then making the top 10.<\/p>\n<p>Boris Becker currently holds that crown after achieving the feat at 18 in 1985, in just 210 days. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/rafael-jodar\">Jodar<\/a> will take that accolade if Shelton fails to beat fellow American Learner Tien in the other semi-final.<\/p>\n<p>If all these pieces fall into place for the former University of Virginia student, he will set the record at a remarkable 140 days. And to think, Jodar only turned professional full-time last December.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>More ATP Tour News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alexander-zverev-calls-change-masters-1000-schedule-criticism\">Alexander Zverev calls for \u2018easy fix\u2019 to a big tennis problem<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/atp-cincinnati-open-draw-2026-novak-djokovic-alexander-zverev-rafael-jodar\"><strong>ATP Cincinnati Open draw 2026: Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev &amp; Rafael Jodar in same half<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as<span>\u00a0<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a><span>\u00a0<\/span>for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/ben-shelton\">Shelton<\/a> is also determined to retain his Canadian Open title. Indeed, if the two should meet in the final, the 23-year-old can stop Jodar breaking that top 10 record if he beats him later this week.<\/p>\n<p>The left-hander enjoyed a superb first year or so on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\">ATP Tour<\/a> after leaving the University of Florida in 2022, as he reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Australian Open and semi-finals of that year\u2019s US Open.<\/p>\n<p>The then 21-year-old ended the year as world No 17 but he admits Jodar is likely to surpass him as far as debuts go.<\/p>\n<p>He said in his post-match press conference, \u201cI\u2019ve been super impressed with Rafa the way that he\u2019s come out on tour. I didn\u2019t expect there to be another college guy within three years who was 500 in the world and then top 20 within a year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s probably going to be top 10 and outdo me, or what I did in 2023. I think that he\u2019s got a great game, complete game, good athlete, forehand, backhand, return, up there with the best in the world.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was super entertained all three times by him and Arthur\u2019s matchups this year. And they\u2019re hitting the ball incredibly from the baseline. So I\u2019m super happy for him, and yeah, excited to see his trajectory and what he does in the next 18 months.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Former world No 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/andy-roddick\">Roddick<\/a> has uttered similar sentiments about Jodar this week. The 2003 US Open champion has backed the youngster to qualify for the ATP Tour Finals in Turin later this year.<\/p>\n<p>He said on the latest episode of <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_WFHwRbzcIQ\" target=\"_blank\">Served<\/a>, \u201cJodar is a badass. He just wins every week. Jodar is going to make the World Tour Finals. He is good every single week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the flip side, Shelton himself is returning to form, however, after thumping French Open semi-finalist Jakub Mensik 6-3, 6-1 in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n<p>The big serving American hasn\u2019t dropped a set this tournament. So, if he does meet Jodar in the final, the Spaniard should not take this match lightly. But, both need to make it to that showpiece event first.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/atp-tour-doctor-biggest-issue-with-jannik-sinners-knee-injury\">Former ATP doctor delivers verdict on Jannik Sinner\u2019s knee injury<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ben Shelton and Andy Roddick agree over Rafael Jodar ahead of possible Canadian Open showdown Richie Mills 12 Aug 2026 12:47 PM Ben Shelton has talked up teenager Rafael Jodar Ben Shelton and Andy Roddick are both hugely impressed by Rafael Jodar\u2019s meteoric rise amid his Canadian Open run. Following the 19-year-old\u2019s straight-set win over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2089613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2089613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2089613\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2089613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2089613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2089613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}