Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar: From Madrid teammates to next ATP Finals contenders | ATP Tour
Next Gen ATP
Landaluce and Jodar: From allies in Madrid to rivals in Jeddah
The Spaniards, who grew up playing together, shared the stage at the Next Gen ATP Finals
December 18, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar both made their debuts at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
Written by Jerome Coombe
The frenzy about the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the PIF could not be felt removed from the red clay courts laid out in Madrid, but for Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar, the connection is unmistakable.
Both Spaniards were born in 2006, both grew up at a club in the Spanish capital – Chanmartin Tennis Club – and both have been playing against each other since they were nine years old. Their journey has not been side-by-side, but fittingly, they have once again crossed one of the biggest stages of their young careers: they were brought together at the 20-and-under show in Jeddah.
“It’s exciting because we’ve known each other since we were nine years old, and he was my best friend,” Landaluce told ATPTour.com, reflecting on his relationship with Jodar. “We played a lot of times and were in a lot of tournaments together.
“For a while I moved away a bit to play in better tournaments, but now we are back together here in Jeddah, and it’s nice to have him here.”
Their story is one of shared beginnings but with a different approach. Landaluce committed himself early on to a professional path, leaving Madrid at the age of 14 to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy. The exposure paid off quickly and at the age of 16, he won the 2022 US Open boys title, a result that put him firmly on the radar.
Meanwhile, Jodar – who is one inch shorter than Landaluce at 6’3″ – took a more measured route. But two years later, he engraved his name on the same US Open trophy as Landaluce with his 2024 victory, adding another shared chapter to their story.
“When I won the 2022 US Open, I think it was him [Jodar] he thought, ‘If he can do it, why can’t I do it?’,” said Landaluce, “Then he won it last year, and it’s great to have it. I think we both push each other, and it’s nice to have a Spanish player here, also from Madrid and also from my club.”
After the victory at Flushing Meadows, Jodar went straight to college tennis at the University of Virginia, where he is now a sophomore. In 2025, the 19-year-old combined the formation of the NCAA with last season’s surge on the ATP Challenger Tour, where he won three titles and gained more than 700 places in the PIF ATP Rankings to World No. 168.
“It feels really good to be back here as a player,” said Jodar, who worked as a batting partner in Jeddah last year. “When I was here playing with these players last year, I thought that maybe one day I will make it, and fortunately, things have been going very well this year. At the end of the season, I had very good results and that gave me the opportunity to play here in Jeddah.”
Last year’s 20-and-under event already felt like a showcase for what’s to come. Landaluce missed the cut at one point and attended as another, while Jodar was there as a batting partner, putting everything in and keeping an eye on the level required.
Twelve months on and the roles have changed dramatically: Landaluce is not back in waiting, but as the fourth seed, and Jodar is no longer confined to the training courts, but is on the field as one of the fastest growing players in 2025.
While their methods are different, their inspiration is largely shared. Nadal remains the benchmark and meeting the 22-time major champion in Jeddah last year was a childhood moment found. And, like many young Spaniards, both found inspiration in Carlos Alcaraz’s rise to World No.
“We had a lot of good Spanish players,” said Jodar. “When Rafa Nadal finished his career, Alcaraz finally won the Spanish Grand Slams. It’s nice to see Spanish players win big titles, and I’m very happy with the way things are going for Alcaraz, he’s a good person.”
Now, the two natives of Madrid find themselves back where it all started – together, competing in the same event, pushing each other again. From shared junior tournaments to individual tournaments, from alternates and batsmen to seeded competitors, Landaluce and Jodar arrived in Jeddah as peers among the world’s Top 200.
The setting may be new, but the story feels familiar.
The Spaniards find themselves in a strong Green Group, which includes top seed and last year’s finalist Learner Tien and four-time Challenger champion 2025 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.
