The nice instances maintain rolling for ATP newcomers Rafael Jodar and Alexander Blockx.
Each moved into the third spherical of 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 units.
In a while 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 because the 19-year-old grew to become the fourth teenager to succeed in the third spherical in Rome this decade, becoming a member of Lorenzo Musetti (2020), Jannik Sinner (2020) and Jakub Mensik (2025).
“I do know I’ve to maintain enhancing,” stated the World No. 32, who’s seeded at an ATP occasion for the primary time this week. “There’s nonetheless an extended solution to go. I feel I can attain the next degree in tennis. However yeah, simply attempting to be taught from each match and each match.”
Jodar, who will face Matteo Arnaldi within the third spherical, received his maiden ATP title in Marrakech final month earlier than reaching the semifinals in Barcelona and the quarterfinals in Madrid.
Blockx, who reached the semifinals in Madrid final week, outlasted Griekspoor, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. The Belgian will now get a second assembly with Alexander Zverev in lower than two weeks. He fell to the German, 6-2, 7-5, within the Madrid semifinals after reeling off three consecutive High 20 wins.
Ranked No. 36, Blockx is now 11-4 on the season. The 21-year-old from Antwerp had been simply 6-10 at tour-level getting into 2026.
4 gamers aged 21 and underneath have reached the third spherical in Rome, with 20-year-olds Learner Tien and Prizmic additionally advancing on Friday. Mensik and Joao Fonseca may 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. Previous to this season, Tien was the one member of the group to have beforehand appeared within the Rome important draw.
