ATP Tour

Jodar reaches maiden ATP Tour SF in Marrakech

Rafael Jodar advanced to the semi-finals at a tour-level event for the first time on Friday at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, where he advanced after Alexandre Muller retired in the second set due to injury.

The 19-year-old Spaniard was leading Muller 6-2, 2-0 after 39 minutes when the Frenchman stopped play at the ATP 250 clay-court event.

"It was difficult today," Jodar said in his on-court interview. "It is not the way you want to win a match and I wish Alex the best. I hope he can recover fast and be back on court as soon as possible. I am happy to be in the semi-finals but not in this way."

Jodar is fourth teenager to advance to the semi-finals in Marrakech this century, while he is just the second man born in 2006 or later to reach the last four at this level alongside two-time ATP Tour titlist Joao Fonseca.

Jodar has enjoyed a breakthrough 12 months on the Tour, climbing from outside the Top 900 to a current career-high No. 89. After breaking the Top 100 for the first time on Monday, the former University of Virginia star is now up to No. 73 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The 19-year-old is the second-youngest man inside the Top 100 after Fonseca.

A three-time ATP Challenger champ in 2025, Jodar is seeking the biggest title of his career this week and will next meet Camilo Ugo Carabelli after the Argentine beat Luca Van Assche 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his fifth tour-level semi-final.

In other action, the 36-year-old Marco Trungelliti beat third seed Corentin Moutet 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his second tour-level semi-final and first since Umag in 2018. The Argentine Trungelliti is No. 85 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to become the oldest first-time Top 100 entrant in 50 years on Monday.

Trungelliti will play top seed Luciano Darderi in the semi-finals. The Italian Darderi, who is the defending champion, advanced via a walkover after Yannick Hanfmann withdrew ahead of their quarter-final clash due to injury.