Rafael Khoda Confidently Opens in Rome: First Set Sweep Against Tien. In Rome, Rafael Khoda secured the first set against Learner Tien 6-1 in just half an hour. The Spaniard set a high tempo and gave his opponent no chance at the start of the match.
In Rome, at a major tournament, Rafael Khodar started his round-of-16 match against the American Learner Tien at an impressive pace. In the very first set, the Spaniard left no room for maneuver for his opponent, closing out the set 6:1 in less than thirty minutes. As noted by El Mundo, Khodar set an aggressive tempo from the outset, and a series of errors by Tien only increased the Spaniard's advantage.
At the start of the match, both tennis players exchanged powerful serves, but Khodar quickly seized the initiative. Several aces from Tien did not help the American maintain the balance: his shots often landed in the net or out of bounds. The Spaniard confidently executed his own serves and did not allow his opponent to gain points on return.
Key moments of the set
The turning point came at 3:1, when Learner Tien made a double fault on serve, and Khodar took advantage to secure a break. After this, the Spaniard continued to ramp up the pressure, winning two more games in a row. At the end of the set, Tien erred again on the baseline, and Khodar finished the set in style with a series of precise shots from the center of the court.
Tournament context
Hodar's current success in Rome confirms his consistent form in the 2026 season. The Spanish tennis player has repeatedly demonstrated a high level of play at major tournaments, and his confident start against Thien further strengthens his position among the favorites. It is worth noting that many participants face stiff competition at this tournament, as has been the case in other recent matches—for example, in the Rayo vs Girona clash, where personnel losses for both teams became a key factor (details on personnel issues in Spanish football).
Further developments
Rafael Hodar faces new challenges ahead on the Roman courts. If he maintains his current pace and precision, the Spaniard has every chance to progress further in the tournament bracket. You can follow the results and match schedules on the tournament’s official resources.
