Paraguayan youngster Adolfo Daniel Vallejo stunned prodigal talent Rafael Jodar on Thursday.
Vallejo, the world number 56, comfortably defeated Jodar 6-1, 6-3 in the Japan Open first round.
The result comes just a few weeks after Bu Yunchaokete demolished Jodar 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in the US Open first round.
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Jodar has enjoyed an excellent debut campaign on the Tour, meaning this period of ill-form can hardly be considered a crisis.
However, one area of his game will certainly need fixing ahead of his next competitive match.
Rafael Jodar struggled to win points on his serve versus Adolfo Daniel Vallejo
It is no wonder that Jodar was broken six times on his serve, as he won only 44 per cent of his first-serve attempts against the Paraguayan 22-year-old.
The young Spaniard, ranked 13th on the ATP Tour, also recorded an abysmal figure in the ‘second-serve points won’ category.
Jodar won just 28 per cent of points in this area – well below the Tour average.
Jodar also hit two doubles faults and did not strike a single ace during Thursday’s contest.
The 20-year-old will need to correct this area of his game before competing in the Shanghai Masters, which is scheduled to take place from October 7 to 18.
| Statistical Area | Rafael Jodar | Adolfo Daniel Vallejo |
| Aces | 0 | 1 |
| Double faults | 2 | 0 |
| First-serve % | 60 | 61 |
| First-serve points won [%] | 44 | 83 |
| Second-serve points won [%] | 28 | 47 |
Despite losing on Thursday, Jodar is currently set to maintain his position as the world number 13. However, his ranking could change by the end of the China Open.
Who will Adolfo Daniel Vallejo play in the next round?
Vallejo, a former Orange Bowl champion and runner-up in the 2022 Australian Open Boys Doubles event, will face 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the Japan Open second round.
Vallejo, who came through qualifying in Tokyo, has never played Berrettini previously on the ATP Tour circuit.
The winner of Vallejo and Berrettini will play Ugo Humbert or Miami Open finalist Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals.
If Vallejo advances to the semi-finals, he will likely play either second seed Frances Tiafoe, eighth seed Valentin Vacherot, or Cincinnati Open champion Arthur Fils.
