Rafa Jódar made his debut in Rome.
Rafa Jódar secured a hard-fought victory in his first match at the Italian Open, overcoming Nuno Borges 7-6, 6-4 in a contest that tested his resilience. The Spanish youngster, still adjusting to the slower clay conditions in Rome compared to Madrid, struggled to find his rhythm early on but eventually rediscovered his trademark aggression and winners after an hour of play.
Borges struck first with a break, capitalizing more on Jódar’s unforced errors than his own dominance. The Portuguese player adopted a rock-solid defensive strategy from the baseline, prioritizing consistency over risk-taking. Jódar, accustomed to a powerful, offensive game, misfired more than usual as he adapted to the Italian clay. However, he remained composed and patient, refusing to let frustration take over.
After dropping serve, Jódar immediately created three break-back opportunities but squandered them all with errors—yet never complained. Instead, he kept searching for his feel, and his persistence paid off at a crucial moment. Trailing 4-3 in the first set, Jódar played a brilliant return game to level the score. Borges then had two chances to break back, but Jódar delivered his best serves to fend them off. Both held serve, forcing a tie-break.
In the tie-break, a deep return—one of Jódar’s trademarks—forced Borges to net a weak reply. Jódar let the ball bounce, took his time, and smashed it down the middle. He looked defiantly at his father, fully aware of the set’s significance, then headed to the locker room for a calm pause.
The Spaniard gained greater feel for the ball in the second set, and the scoreboard reflected his improvement. A break in the opening game gave him a decisive lead. Borges remained mentally strong, holding serve easily and constructing aggressive returns that created several break points. Yet Jódar served brilliantly under pressure, maintaining his advantage. The young Madrid native played like a veteran, closing the match with an ace after one hour and 57 minutes.
“It was a very difficult match. I had to give my best level. I’ve played many matches in these weeks and need to recover well for the next ones,” Jódar said in a post-match interview.
With this win, Jódar advances to the third round in Rome, where he will face either Australia’s Alex de Minaur—whom he defeated comfortably in Madrid—or Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi. The victory also virtually secures his seeding for Roland Garros, adding to the positive momentum for Spain’s newest tennis talent amid Carlos Alcaraz’s absence.
