Alex de Minaur has suffered a startling and potentially soul-destroying defeat, crushed by the latest teenage Spanish wonder boy in the second round of the Madrid Open.
On a day when Carlos Alcaraz caused consternation by announcing his withdrawal from the upcoming French Open with a wrist injury, 19-year-old Madrid local boy Rafael Jodar filled his place seamlessly in the capital by blowing away the Australian star 6-3 6-1 in 75 one-sided minutes.
It was Jodar's first victory over a top-10 opponent and will surely not be the last as de Minaur looked powerless to cope with the youngster's power and precision as his serve got broken six times on the way to the chastening loss just a month before the French Open.
