Teen Sensation Jodar Continues Impressive Clay-Court Rise
Hope
Teen sensation Rafael Jodar produced another top class display on Sunday night to defeat Matteo Arnaldi 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 and advance to the fourth round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
The 19-year-old Spaniard recovered from 1-3 down in the deciding set, winning five consecutive games to seal victory in front of a vocal home crowd supporting Arnaldi.
Jodar’s latest win continues his impressive clay-court form this season. According to the ATP Win/Loss Index, the teenager has now compiled a 14-2 record on clay in 2026.
His strong run includes a maiden ATP Tour title in Marrakech, a semi-final appearance in Barcelona and a quarter-final finish in Madrid.
Playing as a seeded player on the ATP Tour for the first time this week, Jodar will next face Learner Tien in the fourth round.
Arnaldi entered the Rome tournament with renewed confidence after winning an ATP Challenger title in Cagliari and upsetting sixth seed Alex de Minaur earlier in the competition.
The Italian also responded strongly after losing the opening set heavily, forcing Jodar onto the defensive during parts of the second set.
However, the Spaniard remained composed in key moments and finished strongly to secure victory in their first ATP Head to Head meeting.
Earlier on Sunday, Tien rallied from a set down to beat Alexander Bublik 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. The victory marked the American’s first back-to-back ATP Tour wins since reaching the quarter-finals at Indian Wells in March.
Tien is projected to rise to World No. 19 in the ATP Live Rankings and becomes the youngest American man to reach the fourth round in Rome since Andy Roddick in 2002.
