Jannik Sinner has been given a searching test by Alex de Minaur's sensational teenage conqueror at the Madrid Open, but finally ended Rafael Jodar's breakthrough adventure with the declaration: "What a player."
Sinner scrawled the tribute on the TV camera lens at the Caja Magica after having to summon up something near his best to repel the 19-year-old Spaniard, prevailing 6-2 7-6 (7-0) in Wednesday's quarter-final of the Masters 1000 event.
"He's an incredible player - Spain has one more incredible player. Look, it's good for the sport," conceded the world No.1 after Jodar gave him a stern challenge in the second set, before a dazzling finish from the Italian sealed the victory in three minutes under two hours.