Spain's newest tennis sensation dedicates 1st win at Madrid Open to Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham

MADRID (AP) — After clinching a first-round win on debut at the Madrid Open, Spain's newest tennis sensation Rafael Jódar raised his arms and opened them wide to imitate the goal celebration England and Real Madrid soccer star Jude Bellingham.

The 19-year-old Jódar, a Madrid native and a Real Madrid fan, then wrote “Hey Jude” on the lens of one of the TV cameras.

Bellingham, who was in the stands Wednesday, smiled and applauded. The two then met briefly and posed for a photo doing Bellingham's goal celebration together.

“I talked to him after the match, asked him if he had liked it,” Jódar said. “I didn't know that he was going to be here, it meant a lot to me. He's a great person. I'm very grateful that he came. He's an example for me, he's my favorite soccer player.”

Jódar had met Bellingham and other Real Madrid players when he was honored by the club at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium following Jódar's title at the 2024 U.S. Open Boys' championship.

On Wednesday, he needed 2 1/2 hours to rally past Jesper de Jong 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 at the Caja Magica center court in the Spanish capital.

With the victory, Jódar became just the third Spaniard — after Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz — to earn a main-draw win in Madrid before turning 20.

“I was really looking forward to competing here, but I knew I had to play a solid match from start to finish,” Jódar said. “I’m happy because this victory allows me to play another match here.”

Jódar, who earlier this month won in Marrakech for his first ATP Tour title, was outside the top 600 in the rankings just a year ago. He entered the top 100 in March, and is now No. 42 in the world.

He will next face fifth-seed Alex de Minaur of Australia.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham applauds supporters at the end of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham passes Alaves' Denis Suarez during a La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

FILE - Rafael Jodar of Spain plays a backhand return to Rei Sakamoto of Japan during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin,File)

FILE - Rafael Jodar of Spain plays a forehand return to Rei Sakamoto of Japan during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin,File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The hottest new celebrity in Washington, D.C., is Asian elephant calf Linh Mai, who made her public debut Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. She is the first elephant calf born at the zoo in 25 years.

Mother elephant Nhi Linh gave birth to Linh Mai on Feb. 2 after nearly two years of pregnancy.

Robbie Clark, the zoo's elephant manager, said, “Linh Mai is a hoot, she's a fantastic little elephant to get to know.”

“She's very curious,” Clark added. “She's learning how to be quite playful with the enrichment and the environment that she's living in, and she's confident.”

The Asian elephants at the National Zoo live in an expansive area called Elephant Trails, which contains outdoor walkways and pools. Fans who can't visit Washington can check out Linh Mai on the zoo's elephant cam.

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, is bottle fed by elephant keeper Becky Shore, during her public debut at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, makes her public debut, next to "auntie" Swarna, at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, copies "auntie" Swarna reaching into the hay feeder during her public debut at the National Zoo, in Washington, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

People visit the Elephant Community Center as 10-week-old Asian elephant calf Linh Mai makes her public debut at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, touches the hand of elephant keeper Becky Shore, during the calf's public debut at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)