Rafael Jódar delivered a commanding performance to defeat Learner Tien 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round of the Masters 1000 in Rome, advancing in just one hour and 15 minutes.
Rafa Jódar
Reuters
The Spanish player set a blistering pace from the start, breaking Tien’s serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. After that break, the first set turned into a brief 31-minute stroll, with Jódar winning the next three games consecutively and converting his first set point to close it out 6-1.
Much more comfortably than expected, the world number 34 dominated the 21st-ranked American, who showed clear frustration as Jódar piled on the points.
Match Statistics
Flashscore
At the beginning of the second set, Tien regrouped and held serve more solidly, putting pressure on Jódar, who conceded a break to go down 3-1, giving the American hope of leveling the match. However, the young Madrid native maintained his focus and immediately broke back, halting Tien’s momentum.
That blow proved too much for Jódar’s opponent, who dropped serve again in the seventh game. From there, he found no way back, and with some unforced errors, watched Jódar celebrate a 6-4 second-set victory.
In the quarterfinals, Jódar will face the winner of the match between Darderi and Zverev.