Rafael Jódar continued one of the breakout clay-court runs of the season on Tuesday, defeating Learner Tien 6-1, 6-4 to become the youngest Rome quarterfinalist in 21 years and the first teenager to reach the last eight at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia since Novak Djokovic in 2007.
The 19-year-old Spaniard needed just two sets to dismiss the 20-year-old American, backing up a spring surge that has quickly moved him from promising prospect to one of the most closely watched young players on the ATP Tour.
Jódar’s Rome run follows a title in Marrakech, a semifinal appearance in Barcelona and a quarterfinal showing at the Madrid Masters. By reaching the last eight again in Rome, he became the first teenager since Djokovic in 2007 to make multiple Masters 1000 quarterfinals in the same season.
“I am super happy,” Jódar said after the win. “I am super happy with how I handled the important moments in this match.”
Spain’s New Wave Arrives in Rome
Jódar was not the only young Spaniard to make noise at the Foro Italico. Martín Landaluce, a 20-year-old lucky loser, joined him in the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic. The victory put two Spanish players under 21 into the quarterfinals of the same Masters 1000 event, a rare achievement in the modern era.
Punto de Break noted that Jódar and Landaluce became the fifth duo from the same country since 2000 to place two under-21 players in a Masters 1000 quarterfinal. The list includes Rafael Nadal and Nicolás Almagro at Rome in 2006, along with American and Canadian pairings from previous Masters events.
For Spain, it is another reminder that the country’s next generation is no longer just waiting behind Carlos Alcaraz. Jódar and Landaluce are already forcing their way into the larger conversation.
Landaluce Turns Lucky Loser Spot Into Quarterfinal Run
Landaluce’s path has been the more unlikely of the two. He lost in qualifying and entered the main draw only after a withdrawal, but he has made full use of the second chance.
His win over Medjedovic made him just the fourth man in Rome tournament history to reach the quarterfinals as a lucky loser, joining Franco Squillari in 1999, Alberto Martín in 2005 and Lucas Pouille in 2016.
The result also continues a strong Masters 1000 season for Landaluce, who reached the quarterfinals in Miami earlier this year. His Rome run has pushed him closer to the top 60 in the live rankings and given him one of the biggest weeks of his young career.
Tough Tests Ahead
The reward for both Spaniards is a pair of demanding quarterfinal assignments.
Jódar will face Luciano Darderi, who saved four match points to upset Alexander Zverev in one of the tournament’s most dramatic matches. Darderi’s victory gave him his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal and his first Top 10 win.
Landaluce will meet Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Rome champion, who advanced by beating Thiago Agustín Tirante.
For Jódar, the stakes are even larger. ATP noted that he will try to become the youngest Rome semifinalist since Nadal, who was still a teenager when he ruled the tournament in 2005 and 2006.
Whether either Spaniard reaches the semifinals or not, Rome has already delivered a clear signal: Spain’s next wave is not theoretical anymore. It is already winning matches deep into Masters 1000 draws.
