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Rafael Jodar has earned a Tour-leading 15 clay-court wins this year.
By Sam Jacot
Rafael Jodar became the first teenager to reach the quarter-finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia since Novak Djokovic in 2007 on Tuesday, when he defeated 20-year-old American Learner Tien 6-1, 6-4 in Rome.
The 19-year-old Spaniard has enjoyed a breakthrough rise during the 2026 clay-court swing. Jodar lifted the title in Marrakech, advanced to the semi-finals in Barcelona and the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid. By also reaching the last eight in Rome, Jodar is the first teenager since Djokovic in 2007 to advance to that stage at multiple Masters 1000 events in a season.
"I am super happy," Jodar said in his on-court interview. "I just try to play the matches and be focused on what I have to do. I am super happy with how I handled the important moments in this match. Learner is a tough opponent."
Jodar overcame eventual Next Gen ATP Finals champion Tien in the round-robin stage of the 20-and-under event in Jeddah in December and once again had all the answers in the Italian capital.
The 19-year-old forced Tien off balance with his width of groundstroke and was able to get the first strike in the majority of the baseline exchanges. Jodar has now earned a joint Tour-leading 15 wins on clay in 2026, level with Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Jodar will next meet Luciano Darderi. Djokovic reached the quarter-finals in Rome in 2007, just two weeks prior to his 20th birthday. Jodar will aim to go one step further than Djokovic and become the youngest tournament semi-finalist since a then-19-year-old Rafael Nadal in 2006. Record 10-time winner Nadal lifted the trophy in Rome aged 18 in 2005 and then again in 2006.
Jodar is up to No. 29 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, one spot ahead of 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca. The Spaniard will therefore be the highest-ranked teenager in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday.
In other action, three-time Rome semi-finalist Casper Ruud cruised past Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-1 to set a quarter-final clash with Karen Khachanov. Ruud, a Masters 1000 champion in Madrid last year, has yet to drop a set in his opening three matches in the Italian capital.
Khachanov downed Djokovic conqueror Dino Prizmic 6-1, 7-6(2) to advance to the last eight in Rome for the first time.
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