Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar: From Madrid teammates to next generation ATP Finals contenders ATP Tour

Next Generation ATP Finals

Landalus and Hodahl: From Madrid teammates to Jeddah contenders

The Spaniards who grew up playing together make their debut at the Next Generation ATP Finals

December 18, 2025

The buzz of the Next Generation ATP Finals presented by PIF is a far cry from the clay courts of Madrid, but for Martin Landalus and Rafael Hodahl the connection is obvious.

Both Spaniards were born in 2006 and both grew up in the Spanish capital’s club, Champartin Tennis Club, where the two have been around each other since they were 9 years old. Their journeys haven’t always been side by side, but fittingly, they come together once again across one of the biggest stages of their young careers: the 20-and-under competition in Jeddah.

“It’s funny because we’ve known each other since we were nine years old and he’s always been a good friend of mine,” Landalus told ATPTour.com of his relationship with Jordan. “We played many, many games and were in many tournaments together.

“There was a time when I moved away for better competition, but now we are back in Jeddah and it’s great to have him here.”

Their stories have a common starting point but different detours. Landalus decided early on to pursue a professional career, leaving Madrid at the age of 14 to train at the Rafael Nadal Academy. This exposure quickly paid off when, at the age of 16, he won the 2022 U.S. Open Men’s Singles Championship, a feat that firmly placed him in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-3 Jordahl, who is an inch shorter than Landalus, has taken a more cautious route. Yet two years later, he added another shared chapter to their story by adding his name to the same U.S. Open trophy as Landalus in 2024 with his victory.

“When I win the 2022 U.S. Open, I think he [Jodar] “I thought, ‘If he can do it, why can’t I do it?'” Landalus said. “Then he won the title last year and it was great to win it. I think we are all pushing each other and it’s nice to have a Spaniard here who is also from Madrid and from my club.” “

After winning at Flushing Meadows, Jordahl went straight to college tennis at the University of Virginia, where he is now a sophomore. In 2025, the 19-year-old melded the structure of the NCAA with a late-season surge on the ATP Challenger Tour, winning three titles and catapulting the PIF ATP rankings to No. 168 in the world.

“It feels really good to be back here as a player,” said Jordahl, who was the batting partner in Jeddah last year. “When I was here last year playing with these guys, I just thought maybe one day I’ll make it, and luckily things turned out really well this year. I ended the season with good results, which gave me the opportunity to play in Jeddah.”

Last year’s 20-and-under event already felt like a preview of what was to come. Landalus missed the cut by one run and participated as a substitute, while Jordahl was in attendance as a batting partner to soak in it all and see up close the level required.

Twelve months on, the roles have changed a lot: Landalus is no longer on the standby but returns as the fourth seed, while Jordahl is no longer confined to the practice field but is on the court as one of the most improved players of 2025.

Although their paths were different, their inspirations were very similar. Nadal remains the benchmark and meeting the 22-time Grand Slam champion in Jeddah last year was a childhood moment. And, like many young Spaniards, both gained motivation from Carlos Alcaraz’s rise to world number one.

“We have a lot of good Spanish players,” Hodal said. “While Rafael Nadal ended his career, Alcaraz went on to win Grand Slams for Spain. It feels great to see Spanish players win Grand Slam titles and I’m very happy with the situation with Alcaraz, he’s a great guy.”

Now, the two Madrid natives find themselves back where it all began – competing in the same event together, pushing each other again. From participating in junior tournaments together to different milestones, from substitute and batting partners to seeded players, Landalus and Jordahl arrived in Jeddah as equals in the top 200 in the world.

Although the setting is new, the story feels familiar.

The Spaniard finds himself in a tough blue group that also includes top seed and last year’s finalist Learner Tien and 2025 four-time Challenger champion Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.