Spanish wildcard Jodar stuns de Minaur at Madrid Open

Jodar's victory over de Minaur, who was playing in his home city, was described by commentators as remarkable. Nick Lester said: "He has taken apart Alex de Minaur in his home city. What a remarkable impression this young man is making. Devastating." Arvind Parmar added: "Just chewed up the fifth seed this week as if it was nothing. That was special from Jodar." Jodar had earlier beaten Jesper de Jong 2-6 7-5 6-4 in his opening match. After the win, Jodar said: "It was crazy. Crazy feelings. I'm super happy to get my second win here in Madrid at my home tournament, where I used to come when I was a kid, and I used to watch all these top players in the stands. Now, being able to play here in the centre court means a lot to me."

In other third-round action, Casper Ruud defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 6-1. During the match, a fight broke out in the stands, causing a brief stoppage. Commentator Sverre Krogh Sundbø reported: "Now something is happening in the stands here. Someone is screaming that something has happened there." He added: "It looks quite simply like a fight up there." An unnamed British commentator exclaimed: "What the hell is happening at 11:30 in the morning?!" Sundbø later remarked: "Then you are strong, you know. When you show up at half past eleven on a Monday morning at a tennis arena in Madrid and start making noise." The cause of the fight and whether any arrests or injuries occurred have not been confirmed.

Later in the match, Ruud's serve broke a metal hook on the net, causing a six-minute delay. Commentator Sverre Krogh Sundbø said: "He has simply smashed the metal piece. You are too strong, Casper Ruud." An unnamed British commentator noted: "I have never seen that before." Ruud described the incident: "A bit strange situation where I take my first serve in the net and then the metal hook breaks and the net pops up and we get a six-minute long pause." He added: "It's strange to get such a long pause in the middle of a game. Luckily for me I get a new first serve, and start the points again. Those two points are important, and to close out the first set. It was an important first set to win." The exact nature of the net damage and how it affected momentum remain unclear. Ruud said of his form: "I have played very good clay court tennis. I have managed to put together good points. From the baseline I feel I am back to last year. Every time I go out on the clay here, I have good memories. I enjoy it while I can." Commentator Sverre Krogh Sundbø described the finish as "a fairy tale of an ending for Casper Ruud, the way he finishes the last game is insane."

Cameron Norrie also advanced, defeating Thiago Agustin Tirante 7-5 7-6 (5) in the third round. Norrie will face Jannik Sinner in the fourth round, their first career meeting. Sinner is on a 19-match winning streak. Norrie said: "I've never played him, which is crazy. I'm excited to play him but every time we practise he rips me up and smokes me." He added: "He's really confident, probably the most confident player in tennis right now. I'm going to take it to him, I'm just going to play my game, play the ball in front of me." Reflecting on his match, Norrie said: "It was tricky. I hadn't played in the stadium courts yet, not even in practice, so it was a little bit different returning and it was tough to get the range." He continued: "I had to go back because his serve was kicking so, so much. His first serve is an absolute rocket, as we expected, but I managed to dig deep when I needed to and played well in the big moments, and that was the difference." The schedule for Jodar's next match has not been announced.