Jodar, Blockx Continue Impressive Rise in Rome

The good times keep rolling for ATP newcomers Rafael Jodar and Alexander Blockx.

Both moved into the third round in their Internazionali BNL d’Italia debuts on Friday, with Jodar defeating Portugal’s Nuno Borges, 7-6(4), 6-4, and Blockx topping Tallon Griekspoor in three sets.

Later on Friday, 20-year-old Dino Prizmic joined the group with a three-set victory over six-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Jodar improved to 13-2 lifetime on clay as the 19-year-old became the fourth teenager to reach the third round in Rome this decade, joining Lorenzo Musetti (2020), Jannik Sinner (2020) and Jakub Mensik (2025).

“I know I have to keep improving,” said the World No. 32, who is seeded at an ATP event for the first time this week. “There’s still a long way to go. I think I can reach a higher level in tennis. But yeah, just trying to learn from every match and every tournament.”

Jodar, who will face Matteo Arnaldi in the third round, won his maiden ATP title in Marrakech last month before reaching the semifinals in Barcelona and the quarterfinals in Madrid.

Blockx, who reached the semifinals in Madrid last week, outlasted Griekspoor, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. The Belgian will now get a second meeting with Alexander Zverev in less than two weeks. He fell to the German, 6-2, 7-5, in the Madrid semifinals after reeling off three consecutive Top 20 wins.

Ranked No. 36, Blockx is now 11-4 on the season. The 21-year-old from Antwerp had been just 6-10 at tour-level entering 2026.

Four players aged 21 and under have reached the third round in Rome, with 20-year-olds Learner Tien and Prizmic also advancing on Friday. Mensik and Joao Fonseca could make it six on Saturday.

Tien improved to 3-8 lifetime on clay at tour-level with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Damir Dzumhur. Prior to this season, Tien was the only member of the group to have previously appeared in the Rome main draw.