Sinner saved five break points in the second set and ​won 11 points in a row ‌to secure victory over the Spaniard.

The 24-year-old produced a disciplined performance ⁠in the first set, breaking ⁠the local favourite twice to take a 5-2 lead, before sealing the set with ‌a fierce backhand.

Jodar, who won his first tour title in Morocco this month, threatened to pull 4-2 ahead ‌in the second set, but Sinner saved two break points to stay level at 3-3.

A double fault from the Italian put Jodar on the verge of another break, but ⁠Sinner saved three break points with a ​strong cross-court forehand and two backhand winners ​that brushed the sideline.

Sinner went 40-15 up ​in the next game but Jodar saved three break ⁠points before taking it.

Sinner, chasing his second clay court title this season after winning the Monte-Carlo Masters, dominated the ⁠tie-break and sealed victory with a ​forehand that Jodar could not reach.

Sinner’s opponent in ​the semi-finals will be Arthur Fils or Jiri Lehecka, who play later on Wednesday.

Sinner: Spain has another ‘incredible’ player in Jodar

Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis after his victory in Madrid, Sinner said:

“Look, he’s [Jodar] an incredible player, Spain has one more incredible player and it’s great for the sport.

“A tough challenge. I knew already before the match it’s going to be very tough to beat him, especially here.

Sinner told Sky Sports he knew he was in for a tough match against Jodar

“He’s from here, he knows exactly how to play in these conditions. At the same time, I got a little bit more experience in the second set, got a bit lucky at times, but I tried to keep the level as high as I could.

“I’m happy how I ended the match. I tried to level up a little bit, trying to go a little bit faster and this helped me.”

Lucky loser Potapova makes history with semi-final run

Anastasia Potapova turned tennis heartbreak into history by ‌becoming the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final with her thrilling 6-1 6-7 (7-4) ‌6-3 victory over Karolina Pliskova at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.

The Russian-born ​Austrian, who lost in qualifying last week, has capitalised on her unexpected main draw entry and stunned former ​world No 1 Pliskova in a roller-coaster clash ‌despite squandering three match points.

Potapova’s run has included impressive victories over former French Open ​champion Jelena Ostapenko and world No 2 Elena Rybakina.

Asked if she had thought she would be in the final four after her ​qualifying loss, the unseeded Potapova said: “No, I wouldn’t, for ⁠any money and anything. That’s what makes ⁠our sport beautiful. I was given a second chance and now I’m here.

“I’m super happy. There’s ‌nothing better that could happen to me in my life at the moment.”

Potapova trailed 3-1 in the deciding set, only to reel off five ⁠consecutive games and seal victory with her 10th ace ​before collapsing to her knees.

“I was given a ​few match points in the second set on serve. ​I couldn’t manage my nerves at the time, I know that,” ⁠Potapova said.

“But it seems like this tournament keeps giving me second chances and I keep using them.” Potapova will face Marta Kostyuk in ⁠the semi-finals after the Ukrainian beat Linda ​Noskova 7-6 (7-1) 6-0. Kostyuk defeated Potapova in the fourth round ​last year in Madrid, and is undefeated on clay this year.