Rafael Jodar became the first teenager to reach the Internazionali BNL d’Italia quarter-finals since Novak Djokovic in 2007, beating Learner Tien 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old Spaniard overpowered the 20-year-old American with aggressive baseline play, extending his breakthrough clay season. Jodar has now won a joint Tour-leading 15 matches on clay in 2026, matching Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Jodar lifted the Marrakech title, reached the Barcelona semi-finals, and made the Madrid Masters 1000 quarter-finals before advancing in Rome. He is the first teenager since Djokovic in 2007 to reach multiple Masters 1000 quarter-finals in a season.
“I am super happy,” Jodar said. “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.”
He next faces either second seed Alexander Zverev or Luciano Darderi. A win would make him the youngest Rome semi-finalist since Rafael Nadal in 2006.
Jodar is projected to rise to No. 29 in the ATP Live Rankings, making him the highest-ranked teenager ahead of Brazil’s Joao Fonseca.
In other matches, Casper Ruud beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-1 to set a quarter-final with Karen Khachanov, who defeated Dino Prizmic 6-1, 7-6(2).
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