Teenager Rafael Jodar impresses in French Open debut - ESPN

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.»

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.

A year ago, Jodar was ranked No. 707 and playing challengers — tennis' minor leagues — in the U.S. after he competed at the University of Virginia. Now he's No. 29 and is seeded 27th in Paris.

«It was obviously another chapter of my life but I think that chapter also helped me to develop a lot and to be a better player now,» Jodar said.

Going to college also helped.

«Living there alone, it was great to develop and to do things by myself,» Jodar said. «It was a new chapter, new culture for me, actually a