Rafael Jodar beat Learner Tien in the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 in Rome, moving into the quarterfinals and adding another sharp turn to a season that has changed fast. The 19-year-old will learn his next opponent after the match between Darderi and Zverev.
Jódar finished the match on serve, earning a second match point at advantage before closing it out with two forehands and then winning the point when Tien’s backhand drifted into the net. There was a reaction after Tien broke him in the second set, but Jódar recovered in time to finish the job. “I am very happy with my level today,” he said. “Tien is a very tough opponent. I had to work very hard in this match. I read the important moments of this match well and now I will wait for the quarterfinals.”
The result gives Jódar, who is 19 years and 7 months old, a place in history that goes well beyond one win in Rome. He became the first player under 20 to reach the quarterfinals of at least two Masters 1000 tournaments in the same season since 2007, when Novak Djokovic last did it. He is also the third youngest player to reach the quarterfinals in Rome, behind Rafa Nadal, who was 18 years and 11 months old in 2005, and Lleyton Hewitt, who was 19 years and 2 months old in 2000.
The run continues a season that began with Jódar ranked No. 165 in the ATP rankings and has already produced 20 wins. He had previously reached a quarterfinal at the Mutua Madrid Open, and the jump to No. 29 now puts him ahead of Joao Fonseca. Rome has now given him another stage to show how far the climb has gone, and another chance to test it against either Darderi or Zverev next.
