One of the most notable traits in Rafael Jódar’s still young career is his ability to perform under pressure in crucial moments. Against Mateo Arnaldi—currently ranked 106th in the ATP but a former top-30 player and a local favorite at the Rome Masters 1000—he proved it once again.
Jódar dominated the first set, winning it 6-1 in less than 15 minutes. However, his game became bogged down as Arnaldi, energized by a passionate home crowd that had just watched him defeat a top-10 player like Álex De Miñaur, raised his level. De Miñaur had been Jódar’s breakthrough victim in Madrid. Arnaldi played high-quality tennis and even broke Jódar’s serve in the second set thanks to a double fault, forcing a decider.
The Spaniard found himself trailing 1-3 in the third set, with the crowd firmly behind his opponent. But his composure returned. He won five consecutive games, attacking brilliantly on return and playing a stunning break point to set up his own serve for the match, erasing the memory of his earlier double fault. The final score: 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Jódar now advances to the round of 16, where he will face another rising star: 20-year-old American Learner Tien, ranked 21st and already a title winner. Tien defeated Bublik 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the previous round.