The shadow of Alcaraz and Jódar does not dull the shine of another great revelation of tennis 2026
Carlos Alcaraz capitalizes on current events in Spanish tennis. At 23 years old he has built a legendary track record. There are seven Grand Slam titles, he is the youngest player to have collected the four ‘big’ trophies. He achieved this by opening the season with success at the Australian Open. The wrist injury attracted attention due to its complexity.
He has not competed since mid-April, he resigned from the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal and Cincinnati, he has not yet made a final decision on whether or not to defend his crown at the US Open, which will begin in New York on August 30.
Without the Murcian on the track the phenomenon was born Rafa Jodar, at 19 years old, placing himself in the world top-15 in one fell swoop. Champion in his debut on ATP land, in Marrakech, he made the semis in the Godó, quarterfinals in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. A few days ago he entered the final in Washington.
A spectacular hatching, much commented on nationally and internationally. From the adventure at the University of Virginia to placing with the best in his professional debut.
With Jódar, his Madrid countrymen and colleagues from CT Chamartín have also been growing Martin Landaluce and Dani Mérida. Of them, the most ‘veteran’ is Mérida, born in Madrid, settled in Alicante since he was a child, in a move decided by the family based on the tennis player’s projection.
At 21 he is becoming one of the great revelations of the season. Dani Mérida appears in many youth academy honors right after Carlos Alcaraz. It was a promise that is coming true in this 2026 academic year.
As with Jódar, the numbers support him. He has won 15 of his 22 matches on the main circuit. He reached the final in Bucharest, opened his record in the Croatian town of Umag, in mid-July.
And today, Sunday, at 6:30 p.m., he will play his first round of 16 in the Masters 1000 ATP category. He faces the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor30 years old and world number 69. In an unprecedented match.
Dani Merida He finished the previous year in 165th place in the world ranking. It entered the top-100 last May. He currently occupies 63rd place, with the best of his record being 59th (July 20, 2026). He will improve it thanks to his performance in Montreal.
He is provisionally 48th, aiming for the top-40 if he reaches the quarterfinals in Canada. His projection currently points to the top-30, not in vain he figures 36th in the ‘Race’ 2026, the classification configured with the points added purely this season. Without as much noise as Alcaraz or Jódar, but his tennis is growing non-stop and aims to be one of the sensations of the year. Dani Meridastrong on clay, also being seen in only his second ATP Tour tournament on hard court.
