Ben Shelton and Andy Roddick are both hugely impressed by Rafael Jodar’s meteoric rise amid his Canadian Open run.

Following the 19-year-old’s straight-set win over Arthur Fils on Tuesday, the Spaniard is now into the semi-finals in Montreal for the first time and sits 11th in the ATP Tour rankings.

The teenager is seventh in the ATP Race and should Jodar win his last-four clash with Brandon Nakashima, he could break the record for the shortest time between reaching the top 100 and then making the top 10.

Boris Becker currently holds that crown after achieving the feat at 18 in 1985, in just 210 days. Jodar will take that accolade if Shelton fails to beat fellow American Learner Tien in the other semi-final.

If all these pieces fall into place for the former University of Virginia student, he will set the record at a remarkable 140 days. And to think, Jodar only turned professional full-time last December.

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However, Shelton is also determined to retain his Canadian Open title. Indeed, if the two should meet in the final, the 23-year-old can stop Jodar breaking that top 10 record if he beats him later this week.

The left-hander enjoyed a superb first year or so on the ATP Tour after leaving the University of Florida in 2022, as he reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Australian Open and semi-finals of that year’s US Open.

The then 21-year-old ended the year as world No 17 but he admits Jodar is likely to surpass him as far as debuts go.

He said in his post-match press conference, “I’ve been super impressed with Rafa the way that he’s come out on tour. I didn’t expect there to be another college guy within three years who was 500 in the world and then top 20 within a year.

“He’s probably going to be top 10 and outdo me, or what I did in 2023. I think that he’s got a great game, complete game, good athlete, forehand, backhand, return, up there with the best in the world.

“I was super entertained all three times by him and Arthur’s matchups this year. And they’re hitting the ball incredibly from the baseline. So I’m super happy for him, and yeah, excited to see his trajectory and what he does in the next 18 months.”

Former world No 1 Roddick has uttered similar sentiments about Jodar this week. The 2003 US Open champion has backed the youngster to qualify for the ATP Tour Finals in Turin later this year.

He said on the latest episode of Served, “Jodar is a badass. He just wins every week. Jodar is going to make the World Tour Finals. He is good every single week.”

On the flip side, Shelton himself is returning to form, however, after thumping French Open semi-finalist Jakub Mensik 6-3, 6-1 in the quarter-finals.

The big serving American hasn’t dropped a set this tournament. So, if he does meet Jodar in the final, the Spaniard should not take this match lightly. But, both need to make it to that showpiece event first.

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