Rafael Jódar once again impressed at the Masters 1000 in Rome, defeating Matteo Arnaldi in the third round with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in a match lasting just over two hours. The Spanish tennis player started at a very high level, imposing his power from the baseline and securing a dominant 6-1 to open the match. However, he also had to work mentally when the Italian raised his intensity and forced a deciding set.
In the final set, Jódar showed competitive maturity. After a tough start, he regained his rhythm and broke Arnaldi’s serve in the closing stages to close out the victory with authority. With this win, the player from Leganés becomes the youngest competitor still in the tournament in Rome and reaches the round of 16 in a Masters 1000 event for the second consecutive time, following his strong performance in Madrid last week, where he was eliminated by the champion, Jannik Sinner.
The Spaniard is currently enjoying an excellent run on clay, boasting a 14-2 record on the circuit, fueled by recent results such as his title in Marrakech, a semifinal appearance in Barcelona, and a quarterfinal finish in Madrid. In the round of 16, he will face American Learner Tien, who advanced after coming from behind against Alexander Bublik.