Rafael Jodar Overcomes James Duckworth to Reach Roland Garros 2026 Third Round

Rafael Jodar advances to round of 32 at Roland Garros 2026

Jodar 6-1 6-7 6-4 7-5 Duckworth: Strong clay-court performance sees the seeded Spaniard advance at Roland Garros 2026.

Rafael Jodar books his place in the third round of Roland Garros 2026 with a hard-fought four-set win over James Duckworth on May 27...

In a competitive second-round clash at the 2026 French Open, Spain’s Rafael Jodar (ranked around No. 27) overcame Australia’s James Duckworth in a four-set battle on Court 7. The match highlighted Jódar’s clay-court prowess and mental toughness as he advanced to the third round.

Final Score:

Rafael Jodar def. James Duckworth

6-1, 6-7( ), 6-4, 7-5

Set 1: Jodar dominated early, breaking Duckworth multiple times to take it comfortably 6-1.

Set 2: Duckworth fought back strongly, forcing a tiebreak and winning it to level the match.

Set 3: Jodar regained control with solid baseline play and broke at crucial moments for a 6-4 win.

Set 4: In a tense decider, Jodar edged ahead late, closing out the match 7-5 after nearly four hours of play.

Jodar’s superior movement on the red dirt and consistency in the bigger points proved decisive. Duckworth showed resilience, particularly in the second set, but couldn’t maintain the momentum against the in-form Spaniard.

Rafa progresses to Round 3 ✅#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/uHPcC0Hg9Q

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2026

This victory marks another strong showing for Jodar on clay this season. Duckworth, a seasoned campaigner with solid grass and hard-court results, came into Paris with decent clay form but struggled against Jódar’s variety and depth.

The match was part of a busy day at Philippe-Chatrier and outer courts, with several upsets and tight contests defining the second round.