MADRID (AP) 鈥� After clinching a first-round win on debut at the Madrid Open, Spain’s Rafael J贸dar raised his arms and opened them wide to imitate the goal celebration England and Real Madrid soccer star Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old J贸dar, a Madrid native and a Real Madrid fan, then wrote 鈥淗ey Jude鈥� on the lens of one of the TV cameras.
Bellingham, who was in the stands Wednesday, smiled and applauded. The two then met briefly and posed for a photo doing Bellingham’s goal celebration together.
鈥淚 talked to him after the match, asked him if he had liked it,鈥� J贸dar said. 鈥淚 didn’t know that he was going to be here, it meant a lot to me. He’s a great person. I’m very grateful that he came. He’s an example for me, he’s my favorite soccer player.鈥�
J贸dar had met Bellingham and other Real Madrid players when he was honored by the club at the Santiago Bernab茅u Stadium following J贸dar’s title at the 2024 U.S. Open Boys’ championship.
On Wednesday, he needed 2 1/2 hours to rally past Jesper de Jong 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 at the Caja Magica center court in the Spanish capital.
With the victory, J贸dar became just the third Spaniard 鈥� after and 鈥� to earn a main-draw win in Madrid before turning 20.
鈥淚 was really looking forward to competing here, but I knew I had to play a solid match from start to finish,鈥� J贸dar said. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy because this victory allows me to play another match here.鈥�
J贸dar, who earlier this month won in Marrakech for his first ATP Tour title, was outside the top 600 in the rankings just a year ago. He entered the top 100 in March, and is now No. 42 in the world.
He will next face fifth-seed Alex de Minaur of Australia.
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