PARIS -- While the list of candidates capable of challenging top-ranked Jannik Sinner has been dwindling ahead of the French Open, there's a new face making waves on the ATP Tour who might be able to rise to the challenge.
Rafael Jodar, a 19-year-old Spaniard, continued to impress in his Roland Garros debut, dropping just five games in a 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 rout of American opponent Aleksandar Kovacevic on Monday despite boiling heat at the clay-court Grand Slam.
The last man to concede fewer games in a French Open debut was Novak Djokovic, who allowed three to Robby Ginepri in 2005.
"I did the things very well from the start," Jodar said. "It's just my first year [on tour] and I'm experiencing a lot of things in these past few months."
Spain's Rafael Jodar, just 19, dropped only five games against American Aleksandar Kovacevic in his French Open debut -- the fewest in a debut at Roland Garros since Novak Djokovic lost just three games in his first match in 2005. Sport News/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz is out of the French Open with an injury, as is promising 21-year-old French player Arthur Fils. Jack Draper has been bothered for months by a right knee problem.
Meanwhile, Jodar has been experiencing victories: He has won 16 of his past 19 matches, raised a trophy on clay in Morocco, reached the semifinals in Barcelona and had a run to the quarterfinals in Madrid ended by Sinner, who enters the French Open on a three-month-long 29-match winning streak.