Spanish Teen Jodar Wins First ATP Title in Marrakech

Youth trumped experience on Sunday in Marrakech, with Rafael Jodar and all his glorious firepower executing a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 36-year-old journeyman Marco Trungelliti in a final that featured the fifth-largest age gap between participants since 1990. 

19-year-old Jodar, playing in his first ATP final, became the first teenager to ever win in Marrakech and the second player born in 2006 to raise an ATP trophy aloft, along with Brazil’s Joao Fonseca. 

The Spaniard, ranked No. 911 in the world this time last year, has used a stunning array of weaponry to shoot up the rankings over the last 52 weeks – he is up to No. 57 in the ATP live rankings after Sunday’s triumph. 

“It’s incredible. I have no words, honestly, to describe this feeling right now,” said Jodar.

It was an incredible week for Trungelliti as well. The 36-year-old became the oldest player to reach his first final in ATP history, and on Monday he will become the oldest man to make his Top 100 debut, at approximately No. 76. 

Jodar held the upper hand from the start against the Argentinian qualifier. He fired 16 winners to his opponent’s three, and won 18 of 21 points behind his first serve.

The 2024 US Open Boys’ champ set the tone with a break in the first game and went on to complete four breaks of serve, while saving the only break point he faced. 

Jodar is the sixth Spanish teenager to win a title on tour, along with Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo.